League: Wairoa Bulls just keep trampling

Northern Wairoa Bulls' Kammon Flavell has a strong run through broken play with support in tow.

If Pamplona's running of the bulls was brought to Northland, it would have looked something like what was on display at Takahiwai Domain on Saturday.

In what could have been coined the 'Takahiwai running of the bulls', the Northern Wairoa Bulls bucked, trampled and trod in nine tries over the Takahiwai Warriors to claim a resounding 39-28 victory.

Not only did the round nine win bump the Bulls season back into gear - it also put an end to years of heartache.

Langitoto Tu'utafaiva of the Northern Wairoa Bulls ran in one of his team's nine tries during their round nine win versus the Takahiwai Warriors.

After trying to beat Takahiwai on numerous accounts in the past, the Bulls finally cracked their eight-year losing hoodoo against the depleted Takahiwai outfit.

Winning captain Jake Mou said his side were looking to celebrate their victory well.

"Big day, big day, it'll be a good night tonight," Mou said.

Coming off the back of three straight losses, Mou was wary of his side's temperament beginning to slacken as they approached the mid-season.

"We needed it," he said of the win. [We] definitely didn't prep up as well as we wanted to but it was wonderful to win. Takahiwai's always a solid team to play."

Although they played a humble game, there was little remorse from the Bulls as their hoots and cheers rung aloud upon the final whistle.

"Big effort to the boys, [it was a] team effort today. Everyone played out of their skins and got the end result," Mou said.

Despite the solid win, it wasn't all fairytales for the visiting Bulls.

Trailing 18-14 at halftime, the Northern Wairoa side were steering down the barrel of their sixth loss for the year.

With a narrow, four point, margin at the break, Mou's Bulls weren't ready to leave Takahiwai empty handed.

"Our forwards actually stepped up today and just drove the middle which opened options for our backs," he said.

"[By] completing our sets [we] finished off well in our backs. Our defence held today which has been pretty hard [to do] through the season.

"We got down and had a talk before the game, it was just togetherness. We've all played with one another for nine years."

Takahiwai coach Mark Freeman said his side had no one to blame but themselves.

"[It's the] same old cliche but they did - they came here, they were stoked [and] they were absolutely wrapped that they beat us and good on em.

"We had no one at training on Tuesday, we couldn't train so that's the result - simple as that.

"[If our players] turn up at training we're a chance, if they don't turn up at training we're no chance.

"We've had injuries but no excuses. If you don't train you don't play as a team."

Takahiwai will host the Hikurangi Stags next weekend while the Northern Wairoa Bulls will travel to Fishbone Park to take on the Otangarei Knights.