Rugby: Hora Hora, Kerikeri climb table with huge wins at home

The latest club action from around Northland. Photo / Getty Images

Kerikeri and Hora Hora both brought up half centuries as big wins catapulted them up the Bayleys Premier ladder.

It was a round for the home sides as each team tasted victory in front of their home crowds.

Kerikeri picked up their third win of the season as they routed Mid Northern 57-26.

Mid Northern could consider themselves unlucky so far this season with several close defeats and draws meaning the wins column has been light with just one this year, but there could be no such qualms after this defeat.

Kerikeri coach Peter Nock said earlier in the season both the players and coaching staff are learning what it takes to play at this level after being the Championship victors in 2017.

Clearly they have made improvements, registering back-to-back wins for the first time this year.

The win moves them up within touching distance of the top four.

Meanwhile Hora Hora continue to thrive this season, picking up their most impressive win of the year as they dismantled defending champions Old Boys Marist 56-12.

The result was nearly a complete reversal of the last time these two teams met, where OBM came out 64-17 winners in the 2017 semifinals.

Hora Hora have now opened space between them and OBM on the ladder while keeping pace with competition leaders Kamo, who maintained their unbeaten start to the year.

Kamo accounted for Western Sharks 39-19 which keeps the Sharks firmly rooted at the foot of the ladder.

Western Sharks are showing improvement each week and a victory surely isn't far away but the loss to Kamo was their seventh in a row.

Elsewhere Waipu maintained a spot in the top four with a convincing 38-19 win over Otamatea.

Waipu sit precariously in fourth spot as Kerikeri and Mid Northern lie within striking distance.

In the final game of the round Wellsford continued the home victory trend with a 19-7 win over Hikurangi. This was their second win of the year.

In Premier Reserve action, Kamo continued to move away from a log jam near the top of the competition after going six points shy of notching a century of points.

They easily accounted for Western Sharks 94-0 in a perfect showing of one-way traffic, keeping them six points clear at the head of the table.

Just four points separates the next five sides on the ladder as OBM, Kerikeri, Wellsford, Mid Northern and Hora Hora battle for a spot in the top four.

Hora Hora bridged the gap with a 34-19 win over OBM, who remain in second for now, while Kerikeri missed an opportunity to go into second as they went down 49-29 to Mid Northern.

Wellsford put Hikurangi to the sword in their 46-19 win to maintain fourth spot.

The other result saw Otamatea take a tight 12-10 win over Waipu.

Bayleys Northland Club Rugby Premier:
Kerikeri 57-26 Mid Northern
Hora Hora 56-12 Old Boys Marist
Kamo 39-19 Western Sharks
Waipu 38-19 Otamatea
Wellsford 19-7 Hikurangi

Premier Reserve:
Kerikeri 29-49 Mid Northern
Hora Hora 34-19 Old Boys Marist
Kamo 94-0 Western Sharks
Waipu 10-12 Otamatea
Wellsford 46-19 Hikurangi

North Zone:
Awanui 88-12 Kaikohe
Eastern 62-0 Otiria
Panguru 22-32 Kaitaia
Ohaeawai/Okaihau beat Kaeo by default
Moerewa/United Kawakawa beat Te Rarawa by default

South Zone:
Tomarata 18-20 Kaihu Valley
Mid Western 24-7 Southern
Whangaruru vs. Dargaville Old Boys - result not received
Mangakahia vs. Pipiwai - result not received