League: Ōtangarei hold on against Moerewa

Moerewa's Isaac Harris busts through Ōtangarei's Verne Wilson, Pedro Blake and Dean Schreurs in their 36-22 RLN Premiership defeat. PHOTO/TANIA WHYTE

Ōtangarei Knights were made to work hard in a top of the table clash against Moerewa Tigers but held on to continue to top the Rugby League Northland Premiership.

The home side eclipsed Moerewa 36-22 in an entertaining battle at Fishbone Park.

With the finals fast approaching, both sides were looking to stake their claim as the team to beat.

Ōtangarei have been the form team in 2018, going down just once this season, while Moerewa are out to back up their Premiership title from 2017.

The game started with a long back and forth on attack as neither side could penetrate the other's defensive line.

Eventually one had to break and it was Moerewa that were caught napping as Linn Hunapo snuck out of dummy half to crash over the line.

Ōtangarei's Vincent Paul is on the charge. PHOTO/TANIA WHYTE

Ōtangarei turned one into two in immediately as an error from the kickoff gave them possession back on halfway.

Hunapo was involved again, though this time as a distributor, as he found a rampaging Jordan Katene with a pinpoint cut out pass to run through a trio of tacklers to extend their lead to 10-0.

Moerewa finally grafted their way back into Ōtangarei territory and the best attack in the competition showcased their clinical edge as halfback Wilson Hona claimed a bomb from halves partner Henry Wiki to get them on the board.

Like Ōtangarei's second try, Moerewa were given great field position from an error and made the home side pay.

A slick backline move sent the ball to the left edge where Aaryn Cherrington-Wikaire eased over in the corner to level the scores.

With the game delicately poised heading towards the halftime break, both sides were anxious to hit the lead.

Ōtangarei were the ones to do so through a double to centre Pedro Blake.

Twice Moerewa were caught short on the left side, allowing Blake to outpace the covering defenders to give halfback Verne Wilson two relatively straightforward kicks at goal to extend their lead to 22-10 at the break.

Ōtangarei started the second half firing as they looked to end any hope of Moerewa fighting back as centre Katene strolled over for his second try of the afternoon.

Moerewa needed a quick change in momentum and got just that through big second rower Isaac Harris, who dragged three defenders over the line with him as they reduced the gap to 28-16.

The comeback was well and truly on three minutes later as hooker Jarrod Hona mirrored Hunapo's first half effort with a sneaky try from the base of the play-the-ball.

The next 20 minutes were a real war of attrition as neither side could land the killer blow as stringent defence and costly errors became the norm.

Ōtangarei prop Sepeti Tatau was a standout with constant strong runs and great defence, providing Moerewa with more than a few headaches.

Moerewa fullback Jahdon Palmer foiled Ōtangarei's best chance to score in that period with a brilliant try-saving tackle on his opposite Vincent Paul.

Eventually Ōtangarei broke the stalemate as Paul raced 60 metres untouched to put the deficit out to 10 with just a few minutes to go.

Katene completed his hattrick on fulltime, giving Ōtangarei the vital 36-22 win.

Meanwhile, Hora Hora Broncos defaulted to Takahiwai Warriors while Portland Panthers enjoyed the weekend off.