Rugby: Win earns Mid Northern home semi

In form Mid Northern player Wise Lawebuka. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The penultimate round of Bayleys Southern Districts Premier rugby has painted a vibrant picture of what supporters can expect for the fast-approaching semifinals.

In a 47-0 win over Hikurangi, Mid Northern held the fort at their sodden Hukerenui ground to secure a home semifinal and put themselves in a prime position leading into their final round robin match versus Mid Western at Maungakaramea this weekend.

Though they made light work of Hikurangi in the second half, Mid Northern coach Craig Edwards said Hikurangi spoiled the party in the first stanza of play.

"It was a good win in the end [but] it took us 40 minutes to sort of start playing rugby because it was 7-nil at halftime to us.

"It was just pouring down with rain and water all over the field, there was just mud - it doesn't matter whether you're on top and the other team's on the bottom [of the table], it equals it out the ol' weather."

Also claiming a good win on Saturday was the number-one ranked Wellsford side - who will play their semifinal at home as well - after they beat Mid Western 40-22.

With the top two positions decided, the battle for third and fourth will be down-to-the-wire.

Mid Western have slipped into fourth place after losing to Wellsford and will need to win their match against Mid Northern this weekend if they are to have any hope of a semifinal berth.

Hot on Mid Western's heels, Old Boys Marist still have their noses in the mix after grinding out a 47-5 win over the Western Sharks and if they can shut out Wellsford in Whangarei, they will be in with a chance for a play-off position.

Otamatea take over third place on the ladder after a 39-13 win over Kamo and if they can beat Hikurangi at Kaiwaka this weekend, they will meet Mid Northern in one of the semifinal matches.

Bowing out of the season, Waipu snatched a last minute try to beat Hora Hora 22-15 at Caledonian Park.

With both teams out of play-off contention, all was left on the pitch in the heated encounter.

"They showed a lot of heart and a lot of fight," Waipu coach Mark Wells said of the nearly 15 phases in which his team ground out the match-winning try after the full-time whistle.

Ben Mathers slipped through "like a hot knife through butter," Wells said, the final try the match decider after Hora Hora led 15-0 at the 60-minute mark.