CLUB RUGBY - Potent young backline poses challenge for domination

Northland's new first five-eighth Lachie Munro will be one of the players under a microscope when Wellsford visit the Maungakaramea Domain tomorrow.
Wellsford coach Haydn Ferris believes that Munro running the Mid Western backline, could pose his own backs a few problems, when they meet in round five action of the Southern Districts Premier Club Rugby competition.
"We're expecting something different from these guys, most of the teams we've played so far have been strong in the forwards, but these guys have exciting young backs who like to try things," he said. Ferris saw the match as a test of his players in more ways than one.
"We've got high hopes that our first five-eighth Johnny Moi Moi will get a crack at the Northland team this year, he's playing very well and if he's matching up against Lachie Munro and does a good job, then he'll put some pressure on," Ferris believes.
The coach said Moi Moi had some handy attributes and continued to develop as a player of promise.
Northland coach Bryce Woodward is looking for a back-up flyhalf for Munro after the departure of David Howell. The Northland coach said he was still considering a number of local players for the position including Hikurangi's Cass Walding and Marist's Quin Butler.
Ferris said he was looking forward to the game, particularly the backline match-up.
"It could be a good challenge for our backs because they have been cruising and pretty dominant up until now, but they're going to come up against a young, potent backline," he said.
Ferris said there were many similarities between the two clubs and he was looking forward to seeing Mid Western play for the first time this season.
"They're like us a couple of years ago, they've come up from second division and it's taken them a year to settle but they've recruited well - it's good for the competition that Mid Western are coming to the fore - but it's our task this week to try and keep them in check for another week."
Mid Western captain Adam Clark said the team had been gradually improving after getting used to a few new faces on board. He was also looking forward to the game against Wellsford.
"It'll be a good measure of where we are right now, Wellsford have got a pretty sharp backline, perhaps the best in the competition now and their finishing power is probably the best we've come up against," he said.
Clark said getting the side's mental attitude right had been the aim in recent weeks. "Discipline's the key, we got another yellow card against Old Boys last week but if we're down on players against Wellsford we might find it tough to come back from that."
The fifth round of the Joe Morgan Memorial competition sees Hikurangi host Hora Hora. Hora Hora will be buoyed by their first victory against Kamo last week but will find Hikurangi a bigger challenge at their home ground tonight.
Western Sharks will try and bounce back from their first defeat of the season with a win against Kamo at RD1 Park, while Waipu will target Marist as a chance to earn their first win of the season and Whangarei Old Boys host Mid Northern.