Lions withdraw as Sharks edge Crushers
The biggest downside from round 2 of the Taitokerau Rugby League Premiership was the news that came in late last week announcing the Kaikohe Lions had reluctantly have been forced to withdraw from the competition due to lack of playing numbers.
The notice put through on social media from the Lions — as the inaugural champions in 2016 and finalists in 2017 and 2018 — thanked everyone who had supported them for the three previous campaigns since the competition was established.
"It was a good game, there for the taking, one of those things, they [Sharks] came a bit more hungry for it came up nice and strong." Crushers coach Peter Makiha
“Good luck to the remaining teams in the TRL, it is still going to be an amazing season and we wish you all the best. And you never know, we may be back in 2020!”
Meanwhile, results from Saturday were as follows.
United Valley Crushers 24 Ngati Kahu Sharks 26: The Crushers beaten on home soil at Taheke Stadium by a school of marauding Sharks.
Crushers coach Peter Makiha felt the result was there for the taking but for three missed conversion attempts earlier in the game, which proved costly. Crushers scored the match’s final try in the very last minute of play, albeit a case of too little too late.
“It was hot,” he said, referring to how the ref decided to play the game in quarters on a desert-dry hard ground in consideration of the players. Crushers Haylin Rogers (6) and Matt Rogers (12) pin down Ngati Kahu Sharks Pene Kleskovic in this match from round 2 of the Tai Tokerau Rugby League Premiership at Taheke on Saturday. The visiting Sharks won 26-24.
“It was a good game, there for the taking, one of those things, they [Sharks] came a bit more hungry for it came up nice and strong,” said Makiha, noting the visitors would have been keen to make a statement following the opening round’s loss to the Giants and had clearly travelled with a strong squad.
Crushers standouts included prop Koby Warmington (“he’s always good”), fullback Te
Pairangi Pae and centre Danny Makiha. Makiha said the team would take the lessons learned in this loss in constructive fashion.
“We needed a strong game after that game last week [a 78-12 win over the now defunct Lions] didn’t do us much good. This helped us get our things back in order, we’ll address that at training on Tuesday, it’s back to the board.”
Makiha
also
appreciated
having former All Black Norm Maxwell there to pitch in at last week’s training and also showing up on Saturday, where he was quite impressed by some of the quality of the players he saw in action.
Other scores from Saturday, were Moerewa Tigers 38 Pawarenga Broncos 16 at Simson Park, and Uta te Whaanga Giants 58 Aupouri Repo 12.
Also, default 30-0 wins for
Kerikeri Makos, away over the withdrawn Kaikohe Lions, and Taiamai Taniwha at home thanks to a second consecutive no-show from the Ngati Wai Sea Hawks (the Sea Hawks are still aiming to feature in this year’s competition, apparently, dependent on funding).
■ STANDINGS: Moerewa , Uta Te Whanga 4, Kerikeri 4, Valleys 2, Pawarenga 2, Taiamai 2, Ngati Kahu 2, Ngati Wai 0, Aupouri 0.