"Hika's always clever. Joe's [Hikurangi player-coach Joe Rau] a very clever player."
Despite losing several games with tight points margins this season, Tito is content his players were becoming more consistent in their efforts.
"I'm very rapt with our boys even though we lost - they're a good bunch of boys."
Going into the half-time break with a 16-10 lead, Hora Hora looked the better team.
A bold effort from their big boys upfront kept them within reach of their second win this season.
But the Stags weren't ready to head home second best.
An imposing second half performance gave the Stags their fifth win of the season and a good buffer heading into next weekend's fixture versus the Muriwhenua Falcons.
Hikurangi's player-coach Joe Rau admits it was a "very hard win" against a tough Hora Hora side.
"These guys have been improving and we knew we had to come here and play good football in order to get a result," Rau said.
"When you play big physical teams like Hora Hora, you've always got to work hard and stay tough.
"We really had to dig deep, a lot of our young boys came through today and they manned up which was awesome."
Saturday's win keeps the Stags inside the top five of the premiership, however this year's competition is fast becoming one of the closest in recent years.
"The season's been okay," Rau said. [We've] a lot of work to do so we'll just keep tootling along and hopefully ticking boxes along the way."
Rau said his team have an eccentric dose of youth this year, "besides the five of us that should be watching".
"I nicknamed our team the 'baby stags' because about ten or so of them are under the age of 20.
"It's good for us to have that youth and the right amount of experience surrounding them."
RLN Scott Electrical Premiership
Hikurangi 26 Hora Hora 22
Portland 20 Takahiwai 18
Muriwhenua 34 Northern Wairoa 22
Moerewa 56 Otangarei 18
Hokianga BYE
RLN Championship
Marist 42 Takahiwai 40
Hora Hora 56 Hikurangi 48
