Rugby: Try fest as Northland stay unbeaten

The Northland team has made an impressive start in the restructured Roller Mills tournament, their most recent result being a 48-5 win over Thames Valley on Saturday in Kaiwaka. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Two tries by Max Brunker helped Northland's Roller Mills team make it two wins from two, dispatching Thames Valley 48-5 in Kaiwaka.

Brunker's double earned him player-of-the-day honours, as his side piled on 29 second-half points after Northland went into the break 19-0 up.

Other Northland players to cross the chalk on Saturday were Tawa Holyoake, Connor Guest, Kawai Wihongi, Zac Hamlin, Leighton Hamuera, and Rocky Olsen.

Mikey Tangimetua converted four of his side's tries in the game which was shifted from Waipu to Kaiwaka.

Northland's win comes at a handy time as they remain unbeaten with just two games until the semifinals.

Next weekend Northland will face North Harbour in Silverdale at 1pm before facing Auckland West in Dargaville.

The semifinals will take place on October 4 before the finals on October 5 in Tauranga.

Other Northland representative teams weren't able to emulate the Roller Mills team.

Northland's senior B team lost 27-23 to Bay of Plenty while the Northland Colts went down 74-8 to Counties Manukau.

The Northland under-19 side lost to North Harbour 50-10 and the North Zone under-16s lost by a similar margin in going down 47-7 to Auckland East.

Meanwhile, the South Zone under-16s lost 17-10 in a close one to Auckland South.

North Zone under-14 lost to Auckland East 55-5.

Northland 48 (Tawa Holyoake, Connor Guest, Kawai Wihongi, Zac Hamlin, Leighton Hamuera, Rocky Olsen, Max Brunker 2 tries; Mikey Tangimetua 4 cons); Thames Valley 5. HT 19-0.

Run into the finals:

v North Harbour, Silverdale, 1pm, September 20.

v Auckland West, Dargaville, 12pm, September 27.

Semifinals/finals, Tauranga, October 4-5.