Rugby: Rattled Mangonui add Stanley to firepower

While four rounds remain in the Bayleys Southern Districts Premier and Premier Reserve competitions, there is still one more Harding Shield round. Photo / Thinkstock

Mangonui are bringing some serious firepower into the second leg of the Harding Shield in Kaikohe tomorrow by securing the services of Super 15 Taniwha Winston Stanley.

Mangonui coach Paul Scutt said the side were determined to improve on the disappointing 36-32 loss to Whangarei in Kaitaia last month, having been analysing video of that performance with the help of Taniwha assistant coach George Konia.

Meanwhile, Stanley, a centre currently in the Highlanders Super 15 squad, was recently signed by the Taniwha to replace the departed Rene Ranger, which has allowed him to play in the Harding Shield.

Bay of Islands coach Shaun Haynes said the holders of the prestigious shield for the past three years were also determined to redress the forgettable performance in the first leg at Kaitaia last month, which saw them suffer a 38-nil whitewash to a slick Northern Wairoa/Rodney unit.

"I know everybody [in the Bay team] is looking forward to this game," said Haynes.

He admitted he still had a couple of key players out with injury and also wondered whether anyone else might have been affected from two games played in club rugby over three days during the long weekend. With the Harding Shield taking the limelight of rugby in Northland this weekend, in its centenary year, no club rugby will be played.

While four rounds remain in the Bayleys Southern Districts Premier and Premier Reserve competitions, there is still one more Harding Shield round, which will take place at Toll Stadium on June 28. Tomorrow's curtain-raiser pits Whangarei against Northern Wairoa at 1pm, while the main event, Mangonui vs Bay of Islands, kicks off at 2.30pm.