Mid Northern hooker Jordan Olsen heads to the tryline after peeling off the back of a scrum on the stroke of halftime.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Mid Northern hooker Jordan Olsen heads to the tryline after peeling off the back of a scrum on the stroke of halftime.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Expect plenty of fireworks as the top four teams in the congested ladder slug it out this weekend for hosting rights for the semifinals in the Tyrepower Northland premier club rugby competition.
While the Western Sharks are the real deal thus far, Mid Northern are nipping at their heels forpole position and could top the table if the Hukerenui-based side beat Wellsford at home and other results fall their way.
But Wellsford are no pushovers and have Rene Ranger, Jordan Hyland and Matt Wright who bring the sort of physical and combative game to ensure they finish the season on a high after bagging just three wins in the competition.
Despite losing on Saturday, Old Boys Marist (OBM) and Kamo are also in the running for the semis.
Mid Northern overpowered a determined OBM 29-10 at Hukerenui on Saturday. Their game was built around an unstinting physical onslaught from the opening whistle. It was clear the men in red preferred quick recycled ball to flummox the opposition defence.
The win was built on brutal, relentless and fierce determination and while the hosts brought physical swagger, they could not ice several hot chances.
OBM were frustrated at having to camp in their 22m for the opening quarter and struggled to match the opposition scrum. That resulted in referee Boris Jurlina awarding Mid Northern a penalty try in the 11th minute.
But OBM replied through centre Cullen Lowe after he won the race following a chip ahead by wing Enele Ligairi.
Mid Northern's second try came straight from the training pitch.
OBM flanker Jarod Byrnes tries to bring down Mid Northern wing Jack Colbourne during the second last round of club rugby at Hukerenui.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Wing Brady Rush fielded an inside pass off a lineout and made a scything run down the left flank to dot down in the corner.
Next on the scoreboard was hooker and Northland skipper Jordan Olsen. He peeled off the back of a rolling maul and powered his way over from 5m out on the stroke of halftime for Mid Northern to lead 19-5 at the breather.
OBM started strongly in the second spell, looked after the ball a bit better and straightened their attack but mistakes pock-marked those efforts.
The slabs up front kept pounding and OBM No 8 Isileli Manu and centre Bramwell Egli muscled towards the shadow of the posts with crunching waves of attack but Mid Northern defended stoutly for most of the match.
Olsen and props Marika Boleca and Chris Apoua spearheaded much of the forward venom before play was switched to the flanks where the outstanding Kalani Going was a handful for the OBM defence.
Mid Northern mentor Corey Anderson was pleased with the tough win and said although his side was in prime position to play in the semis, it would focus on the next match.
OBM halfback Austin Ryburn sets up play from the back of the ruck in his team's loss against Mid Northern.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Waipu pipped his team by three points in last year's final and Anderson said the boys were determined to get the job done this time around.
"But we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. There are no easy teams in the competition. Any team can beat anybody so our focus is on Wellsford and then we'll see what happens afterwards."
Anderson said his players had worked hard on all aspects of their game, particularly the set-piece.
In the other premier results from Saturday, Hora Hora beat Kamo 36-26, Western Sharks thumped Ngāti Hine Moerewa 53-24, Wellsford walloped Hikurangi 49-7, while Waipu defaulted to Kerikeri.
