Mavericks continue setting the pace

Te Hiku Mavericks 54 Ngati Kahu Sharks 20 (HT 24-10): The new team in this year’s competition continued to set the pace by flexing their collective muscle over the premiers in round 15/18 of the Taitokerau Rugby League Championship at Waipapakauri Domain on Saturday.

Mavericks coach Vince Rudolph was pleased with the overall performance, noting the difference between the two teams was simply “fitness”. He also had some daunting words for anyone holding any doubt the side could go all the way in its debut campaign.

“We are gelling really well. We’ve got numbers, players are turning up for trainings or making phone calls if they can’t make it. It’s really good to have that thing going on, and everyone fighting for spots.”

Standouts on Saturday were the two Laseke brothers, Xavier, scoring four tries from centre, and younger sibling, Haydze.

Sharks coach Benji Phillips noted a mounting injury toll (16 players out apparently) didn’t help the visitors go into this clash against such highly rated opposition.

“She’s a long season,” he said. “The Mavericks are a very good team, no taking away from them. Really big, fastrunning team. One of their props got the ball on the 22 and ran all the way to our goal-line. If you don’t play the good game [against them] . . . Still a good game for the crowd to watch.”

Phillips donned his boots for the first time in five years and scored a try — although he admitted to being pretty sore on Sunday — with other tries for Zac Phillips among others, while notable were Josh Brooks as back POTD, Johnny Wright overall POTD and Pene Jones.

Aupouri Repo 24 United Valleys Crushers 22 (4-4): The closest contest of the round took place in Te Kao which Repo coach Lance Taylor described, as the result suggested, as a humdinger.

“It was an awesome game! Had everything, the breaks, the big hits — supporters really got their money’s worth. Considering both teams hadn’t had a game for a while, to put out that sort of football [was remarkable]. Really tight. I said to the players this game is going to come down to opportunities, you get an opportunity you’ve got to make the most of it,” he said.

The Repo were leading 24-10 with

FAR NORTH

Te Hiku Mavericks’ Isaac Ashley pushes for the Ngati Kahu Sharks tryline in this TRL clash at Waipapakauri on Saturday. The Mavericks won 54-20.