League: Swords sharpen up for Vipers

The Swords may have lost on Saturday - in what was their bye week in the national competition - but they achieved a good workout ahead of their game this Sunday. Photo / Tania Newman

A second half fight back from the Northern Swords wasn't enough to get the win against the Auckland under-20 side, losing 38-22 in what was essentially a warm-up for this weekend.

While a loss is never the goal, the Swords did achieve what they wanted in their bye week - a workout ahead of their Mid Central Vipers match this Sunday.

Facing the well resourced Aucklanders on Saturday, coached by original Warriors coach John Ackland and now Auckland chief executive, the Auckland team led 22-6 at half-time before the Northlanders had something to say about it.

The second half saw a spirited Swords team almost snatch the game from Auckland. With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, the Swords fought back to a 26-22 deficit and were hot on attack.

However, the Aucklanders went the length of the field to score and break the spirit of the Northlanders and stop the comeback. They also scored two more late tries to claim the win.

Coach Mark Freeman was happy with the result despite the loss. "We had a number of key players unavailable due to family commitments so it was a good opportunity to give some fringe players a run," he said. "We showed a lot of guts and determination and were able to improve on some combinations.

"Dean Shreurs and Daniel Fulop looked good in the halves and linked well with hooker Joel Freeman.

"Our props, Chris Apoua, Andre Lennox and Elliot Pomare, again showed they can match it with quality opposition, while Chris Mellar-Reynolds was dynamic at fullback."

The next focus for Freeman and his Swords' team is this Sunday, as they look to pick up their second win of the national competition.

The Swords travel to Whanganui to play the Mid Central Vipers this Sunday, with the Vipers looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss to Counties Manukau Stingrays 60-0 on Saturday.

The Vipers are the only team that the Swords have ever beaten in the national competition, defeating them 40-22 in 2013.

In the other match played at the Bluegoose on Saturday, the Auckland under-18s were, as expected, too strong for the Swords 17s in defeating them 52-0.