CLUB RUGBY - Underdogs come out snarling

In his time, Bryce Woodward has proven himself to be a coach of some substance; success with the New Zealand Colts and guiding the Northland rugby team through some difficult periods adding lustre to his resume.
But there were more than a few raised eyebrows when Woodward suddenly re-emerged on the coaching scene this season.
Not because he was back in the coaching game, but because he took a leap back in time to sign on with the Kamo club where it all started 15 years ago.
And he wasn't even returning in full coaching capacity _ he is at Kamo as an assistant coach to head coach John Fitzpatrick.
Now Kamo have suddenly leapt from competition also-rans to serious top four contenders in this year's Joe Morgan Memorial club competition, and Fitzpatrick knows why his team are starting to threaten the scorekeepers.
"It is Bryce Woodward's technical work with the boys paying off big time," Fitzpatrick said. "We did not start off too well with a scratchy win over Old Boys then we really struggled to do anything out at Mid Western, but since then we have started to work a bit better.
"But I don't doubt for a moment that most of what we are seeing now is because of Bryce."
It has been a long haul though, a journey both Fitzpatrick and Woodward realised would be lined with potholes when they cast their eye on pre-season trainings. To say they decided to adopt a back to basics mantra would be a serious understatement.
But when they put 30 points past Wellsford on Saturday, it looked like Kamo may be emerging as a serious contender for the first time this year.
In what was a pivotal round of the competition, Kamo hammered Wellsford 32-19, Hora Hora managed to wallop an understrength Hikurangi 27-8 and Marist upended Mid Northern 24-15 in a top of the table clash.
Even Mid Western managed to secure their first win of the season, and their first in the premier grade since winning promotion, with a handsome 32-15 haul over Whangarei Old Boys.
The only close game of the weekend was at Dargaville, where the Western Sharks survived with a 12-11 victory over the embattled Waipu team.
But it was Kamo's victory that set tongues wagging, a winning effort spearheaded by livewire flanker Freddie van Loggerenburg who scored three tries and complimented by an eyecatching display at first five eighths by Matt Buckley.
Kamo started well, surging out to a 19-0 lead, but were forced to dig deep when Wellsford, thanks mainly to the efforts of a slick backline, clawed their way back. Kamo led 25-19 in the final 10 minutes before they shut the game down with a late seven pointer.
Marist were keyed up for a big effort right from kick-off against Mid Northern, but were forced to play catch up when Mid Northern opened up a 10-0 lead by halftime.
But the match turned on its head when a second half scuffle saw two players sent off - Mid Northern's indispensable fullback Clint Going and Marist loosie Tom Vainikolo. When Gray Roberts was later carted off with a twisted knee, Mid Northern were left seriously short of firepower.
Marist then wound up the pressure, with speedy winger Kameli Delena getting two tries out wide and hooker Seaosi Tuatao putting on a firebrand display in the forwards.
Hora Hora were surprised at the size of their victory over Hikurangi in what many had anticipated would be a classic encounter. In the end Hikurangi had been hit hard by injuries and were unable to keep up with the new look Hora Hora side.
Mid Western's new prop Sergio de la Fuenta dotted down as they swept past Old Boys at Maungakaramea, with Brooke Gilmore getting two touchdowns at centre.
Old Boys were not embarrassed though _ their ability to -break the line out wide keeping them competitive, with fullback Cass Pou catching the eye.
• Next week: Kamo vs Hora Hora; Hikurangi vs Western Sharks; Marist vs Wellsford; Mid Western vs Waipu; Whg Old Boys vs Mid Northern.
RESULTS
JOE MORGAN MEMORIAL
PREMIER
Hora Hora 27 (Mark Seymour 2, Logan Wednt, Alan Nesbit tries; Joe Te Ouni pen, 2 cons), Hikurangi 8. (Maurice Cooper try, Josh Edmonds pen).
Prem reserves: 291-0 Hora Hora.
Kamo 32 (Fred van Loggerneburg 3, Matt Buckley tries; Buckley 2 pens, 3 cons), Wellsford 19. (Roger Wright, Alun Davis, Toby Brogan tries; Takoma Sukama, Paul Humphries cons).
Prem reserves: 14-7 Wellsford.
Western Sharks 12 (Manu Onesi, mark Russell tries; Jamie Kay con), Waipu 11 (Darren McCully try; Toby Phillips d-goal, pen).
Prem reserves: 30-0 Sharks.
Marst 24 (Kameli Delana 2, kaino Kaino tries; Luke Muggeridge pen, 3 cons), Mid Northern 15 (Bo haika, Andrew Henwood tries; Ken Forsyth pen, con).
Prem reserves: 23-13 Mid Northern.
Mid Western 32 (Peter Metclaf, Reon Wynyard, Brooke Gilmour 2, Sergio de la Fuenta tries; Buster Tahere pen, 2 cons),Whg Old Boys 15 (Gary Wakelin, Dean Birchall tries; Gavin Shirey pen, con).
Premier reserves: 15-all.
POINTS:
Premier: Marist 32, Hora Hora 29, Mid Northern 24, Kamo 23, Welsford 22, Hikurangi 21, Western Sharks 10, Mid Western 7, Waipu 4, Whg Old Boys 0.
Premier reserve points: Wellsford 29, marist 28, Mid Northern 27, Hora Hora 25, Sharks 22, Kamo 19, Waipu 9, Hikurangi 9, Old Boys 2, Mid Western 2.
NORTHLAND UNDER-18
Kamo High 25 (Shane Anderson 3, Jono Lawson tries; Tyler Landsdowne pen, con), Kamo 3 (Adam Shepherd pen.)
Kerikeri 19 (Mike Cook, Ben Cottle, Taylor Riwhi tries; Blair Johns, Brendan Green cons), Awanui 12 (Carl Brannigan, Brody Maron tries; Maron con)
WBHS 27 (Mile stawha, Tynen Erueti, Rhyss Leslie, Troy Kingi tries; Ben Wallace pen, 2 cons), Old Boys-Marist 6 (Connor Matson 2 pens).
Eastern 18 (Vinnie Busby, Jordan Karena tries; Karena 2 pens, con), Moerewa 17
Otamatea 59 (Matt McCabe, Brett Robinson2, Shaun Vaughan, Anthony Paikea, Boyd Flavell 3, Matt Moulds, Corey Nicholas, Sam Smith tries; McCabe 2 cons), Southern 0.
POINTS:
Under-18:
Awanui 21, Otamatea 19, Moerewa 18, Eastern 17, Kamo High 16, WBHS 15, Kerikeri 14, Kamo 9, Southern 4, Old Boys-Marist 1.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS
Division Two: City 101, Waimarie 0; Tikipunga 53, Whangaruru 12; Mangakahia 17, Pipiwai 7; Otamatea bt Eastern Suburbs by default.
Division Three: Southern 43, Ruawai 0; Dargaville Old Boys 24, Kaihu Valley 20.
BAY OF ISLANDS
United Kawakawa 35, Kaeo 22; Okaihau-Kaikohe 50, South Hokainga 0; Ohaeawai 6, Kerikeri 6; Moerewa 19, Otiria 3.
MANGONUI
Awanui 21, Te Aupouri 10; Te Rarawa 22, Eastern 5; Waipapakauri 13, Kaitaia 0.