Rugby League: Coastline Mariners improve in defeat to Northern Swords

Coastline Mariners second rower Masi Tu'ifua crashes into the Northern Swords defence in Whangarei on Saturday. Photo / Jackson Van Mierlo

Coastline Mariners coach Jock Nicholson wants his side to be more "stingy" ahead of their third North Island Championship rugby league game this weekend.

The Mariners were beaten 36-24 by the Northern Swords in Whangārei on Saturday as they continue their comeback from representative exile. Nicholson says he is rapt with this team's performance in the north.

"It was a really clean game and very physical. We emphasised our starts at training and pre-game warm up. We changed the warmup and made sure there was more of a sweat on the brow and that went well.

"We held the ball and we competed, and we gave them some headaches. It is a matter of taking our opportunities and not giving away too much, we have got to be stingy. It is also getting used to pressure.

"We were in it the whole game, trailing 16-10 at halftime, but it was like an old boxing match, it was whoever made the mistake was going to get punished for it. I have seen improvements from our first game in pre-season to this week. That is really pleasing."

Nicholson says front rowers Taite Smith and Tama Renton were standout players, while hooker Sam Johnstone earned his third-consecutive player of the day award.

The Mariners have more travel ahead as they take on the Wellington Orcas in Wellington this weekend.

"We are under no illusions we are the newbies in the competition. Wellington are the heavyweights and they will be tough and well structured. It will be a big ask, but like any David and Goliath situation, we are not going down to lose and we will give it everything we have got.

"The trip away was really good. The team bonding the night before, a good breakfast and a team walk – all that sort of thing is getting to know each other and, as well as playing more games together, it is coming together well.

"We need to keep improving. As each game goes the combinations are getting better. We are still missing tackles, that is a work on and we need to make ourselves accountable for those kind of things."

North Island Championship results:
Taranaki Sharks 28, Wellington Orcas 42.
Northern Swords 36, Coastline Mariners 24.

Draw for Saturday, September 14:
Wellington Orcas v Coastline Mariners, Porirua.
Taranaki Sharks v Manawatu Mustangs, Waitara.
Northern Swords, bye.