CLUB RUGBY: Exciting clashes

While Mid Western enjoyed their thrashing of Kamo, there were some exciting clashes in other premier games in the round.
Hora Hora beat Wellsford 28-11, Western Sharks won 26-23 against Otamatea Hawks, Mid Northern cruised past Old Boys 28-5 and Marist beat Hikurangi 7-5.
Wellsford manager Mike Fletcher said having five of his team's key players on Northland duties had enabled Hora Hora to control the game.
The famous five - props Ross Wright and Justin Davies, lock Cole Campbell and wings Simon Munro and Brendan Ward - could be even more missed next Saturday when Wellsford face top of the table Mid Western.
Otamatea Hawks coaches Justin Walker and Hone Pene faded out of reception when the Advocate phoned to ask about their team's 14th loss for the season, but Western Sharks' coach, Myles Ferris, said Otamatea had several good new players and had made his team work hard to win.
His assistant, Darryl Bradley, considered Otamatea was not too far away from tipping over another team and ending its season-long duck.
Matthew McCully moved in from his usual position of fullback to play first five-eight for the Sharks. He scored a try which he converted, and he also kicked three penalties. Second-five Sam McCahon and wing Hamish Stokes also scored tries, but Myles Ferris said they had also dropped the ball on other occasions when the Sharks appeared to have scoring opportunities.
Ferris rated Sharks captain and No 8 Latu Moala as the player of the day.
Mid Northern coach Craig Edwards said his team's forwards had played their best game of the year.
"Everything we did worked," he said, singling out props Jason Hammond and Chris Opoua and lineout-jumping lock Brad Taylor for special praise.
Mid Northern play Kamo next Saturday. Other games are: Hora Hora v Western Sharks, Marist v Old Boys and Otamatea v Hikurangi.
Southern Districts Premier Reserve: Hora Hora 49 Wellsford 19, Mid Western 10 Kamo 10, Western Sharks 91 Otamatea 0, Mid Northern 14 Old Boys 14, Hikurangi 22 Marist 11.