CLUB RUGBY - Mid Western prove a point as they knock over leaders

Mid Western captain Adam Clarke had a point to prove on Saturday as they became the first team in the 2009 season to knock over competition leaders Wellsford.
The visitors to Maungakaramea Domain maintained an advantage in the forward battle after starting with a wealth of possession but Mid Western's new-look backline gave them the edge in the 13-10 win. Their Northland first-five Lachie Munro mixed up the backline plays and he had great service from halfback Adam Clarke.
Clarke has come from Western Australia to try to break into the Northland set-up and made a statement with some fine work behind the pack that struggled at times.
"I'm here to prove myself in Whangarei and get a spot in that team but I have to play well week in, week out to do that," he said.
With Hikurangi's Rhyan Caine injuring his shoulder at Northland training, Clarke's good form became a little more important for the Northland cause.
He kicked intelligently but it was his defence that brought the applause, particularly when he cut down Rene Ranger in a cover tackle in deep into the second spell that, if missed, might have changed the course of the game. "I don't mind doing the covering tackles - that's a part of the game I enjoy," Clarke said.
Ranger's presence in the side may have been considered as a bad omen by the Mid Western faithful but their players were tenacious and physical in their swarming defence against Wellsford's star player and kept him to just one try in the match.
"I saw our young lock Dane Rawiri put a couple of big hits on Rene and that's what we needed. We had to hit him hard because he can break tackles so well, so we had to go with gang tackling," the satisfied skipper said.
With Ranger unable to make headway, the Wellsford backs tried a few variations but without Aden Dewes nor fullback Matt Wright, who was sidelined with a hamstring strain, they lacked polish and were cleaned up by the home side's defence.
Clarke said the team's forwards blew hot and cold during the match with Wellsford's scrum becoming increasingly dominant as the match progressed. "Wellsford were scavenging well against us so we've still got work to do on the breakdown. We need to be better there, we've got lethal backs so we need to get them good ball."
Mid Western's problems up front saw them penalised almost twice as many times as the visitors. Wellsford capitalised on two quick penalties in the final ten minutes to put Ranger over for the only try of the first spell, to trail 5-6 at the break.
In the second half, both sides had their opportunities but it was a great backline effort that put Mid Western ahead. With 15 minutes to play, Mid Western spun the ball wide and left winger Saxon Samuels made the most of the overlap before cutting inside, drawing two defenders, before offloading in the tackle to Munro, who ran towards the corner and was taken in the tackle of Ranger - but not before passing to Karaitiana Vette-Welsh, who went over to score.
Munro converted to make it 13-5 but although Wellsford threw caution to the wind and attacked until the final whistle, they were restricted to one more try, with loosie Henry Haukinima bursting over with two minutes to go.
RESULTS
* Southern Districts Northland Premier Results
Western Sharks 19 (M McCully, S Takalua tries, H Rawiri 3 penalties) Kamo 12 (J McKensie, B Flavell tries, H Kingi con), Old Boys 0, Mid Northern 49 (E Kapa, T Liberon, D Carpenter, J Witehira, B Gray, T Williamson, J Evans (3) tries; T Liberon, D Holwell con), Mid Western 13 (K Welsh try, L Munroe, 2 penalties and con) Wellsford 10 (R Ranger, H Haukinima tries), Waipu 25 (G Betham, A Rogers pen, try, T Phillips 2 pen, 2 con) Marist 27 (I Nawaqa, S Hepi, M Proctor, T Vainakolo tries, J Walker 2 con and pen), Hikurangi 6 (H Foy 2 pen) Hora Hora 15 (A Baigent, A Nesbitt tries, K Milne pen, con).
* Premier Reserves
Western Sharks 28 Kamo 20, Old Boys 5 Mid Northern 8, Mid Western 8 Wellsford 7, Marist 28 Waipu 22, Hikurangi 5 Hora Hora 42.