Roller Mills reach semis despite loss

MOVE IT: Northland centre Liam Shae-Harding was hard to stop on Saturday in Dargaville, despite his Roller Mills side going down 20-14 to Auckland West.

Northland's next generation of Taniwha players only needed one point to make this weekend's semifinals, and they did it - just - in losing 20-14 to Auckland West in Dargaville.

The Northland Roller Mills side now go on to the main draw for the tournament, one they came close to winning last year, finishing as runners-up.

But Saturday's bonus-point win came at a cost as No8 Connor Guest and second-five Javarne Porter suffered concussions.

Coach Maurice Colley was calm in explaining his side had not played badly despite the losing scoreline.

"We were impressed with effort the boys put into win that game, [and] impressed by the improvement," he said, citing a loss the previous weekend had removed any complacency from Northland's game.

"I thought it was a huge lift from the week before, they gave it everything they had. But we lost a few key players to concussion and that made a difference."

Colley said Guest, who is the side's captain, and Porter were a big part of the side so would be missed.He said there are able replacements who would step up in the pair's place.

Northland had hoped home support would be enough to help get them over the line against Auckland West, who Northland beat in the semifinals last season.

While Northland couldn't manage the win, Colley said the support was impressive and much appreciated.

"There was a good turnout and the weather played its part. Everyone thought it was a really good game but sometimes you don't always get the result," he said.

This week will see Northland up the ante in training in preparation for Saturday's semifinal in Tauranga.

Colley felt the process was simple leading into Saturday, where he hoped his side could repeat last year's heroics and hopefully go one better.

"The last couple of weeks we've had really good preparation, and we'll just keep building," he said. "We'll take that intensity up another notch at training, but that is what we've been building towards anyway."

Manager Catherine Stewart said Northland would play Auckland East, who topped the other pool, but other details would be confirmed today.

Roller Mills grade rugby is for primary school players aged under 13 and weighing under 57kg. It is the first taste players get of representative rugby.

For more Roller Mills action see page 30.