League: Battle-scarred Stags in final

Moerewa's Wilson Hona escapes Takahiwai's Ross McFarlane during game one of the Rugby League Northland Premiership major semifinals. Photo / Tania Whyte

A heated tussle between the Hikurangi Stags and the Hokianga Pioneers hit melting point during the second half of game two at the Rugby League Northland [RLN] major premiership semifinals.

In stark contrast to the first game, in which Takahiwai beat Moerewa 30-24 in a clean affair at Whangarei's Toll Stadium, the second match of the day threw out any connotations of league being a "beautiful game".

Looking worse for wear post-match, Hikurangi captain Joe Rau was proud of his side's resilient effort to remain disciplined against Hokianga's scrappy tendencies and notch a 28-20 win.

"I'm very stiff, a little bit dizzy as expected but we got through it," Rau said.

Targeted as a key player to shut down, Rau had plenty thrown at him by Hokianga - and by the herds of Hokianga supporters, a feature being their chorus of booing during Rau's conversion attempts.

"They bashed me around.

"I just had to stay strong and my team came through for us," he said.

"Two very passionate teams left it all out there.

"The war's over and now we're good mates, but it was very, very ugly.

"We're just really rapt to get to the grand final next week."

In the opening match Takahiwai realised their ambition of making the grand final by sneaking past Moerewa inside the last 10 seconds of the game.

With the scores locked at 24-all just seconds out from fulltime, extra time appeared imminent.

However, Takahiwai's Kyle Hool had other ideas.

Stepping and sliding his way through the Tigers defensive line like a hot knife through butter, Hool took advantage of Moerewa's scrambling defence as he blitzed away to score near the uprights.

Leading 16-6 at halftime, Moerewa were playing the better footy before Takahiwai's attacking line clicked into action to lift their intensity with the ball in hand.

Running in some sturdy tries that were backed up by the kicking skills of Joel Freeman, Takahiwai crept back into the game.

Nonetheless, Takahiwai needed an opportunist in the form of Hool to end the final hopes for the Tigers.

"We just stuck to what we know and played a much better second half," an elated Mark Freeman, the coach of Takahiwai, said at the end of play.

"First half maybe it was the nerves but second half they got in their rhythm and then obviously took the lead and we're happy with it.

"They had us on toast a couple of times out wide but we managed to scramble and it was good."

Hikurangi and Takahiwai will now meet in the RLN grand final, 3pm, August 16 at Toll Stadium.