Kaikohe expected a tough battle up front against the Hokianga Pioneers on Saturday and that's what they got in their 40-18 win. What they didn't expect, was the youth of the Hokianga team they played. The Pioneers hung in the game until half-time, trailing just 8-12 before the competition leaders kicked awayfrom them in the second spell. "There are about four old guys in the team, Son Taylor, Mare Katene, Richard Koroi and Sonny Barber, and actually none of them are really old at all, but compared to the rest of the team they are," Kaikohe Coach Benson Selwyn said. The Hokianga side are all about improving week by week, trainer Jason Smith said, and while they didn't have such a great second spell with a lot of dropped ball, they're happy with where they are heading. "Everyone expects the Hokianga Pioneers to win every week, but that's not what we're about at the moment, we're about building a team that can win in future - and we've already learned what we can about the Kaikohe game and it's behind us - we'll get back to training this week and get on with it," he said. The Kaikohe coach was impressed with the potential of the Pioneers, as he was with his own team's second-half effort. Kaikohe second rower Te Wairongoa Tohu scored a double in the second half, taking his personal haul to 10 tries in just four matches, with winger Stacey Nimmo also notching up a double. "It was a great team effort though, that's what we're after at the moment," Selwyn said. At Simson Park, Moerewa were too strong for Otaua, winning 36-12 in front of a good-sized crowd. Moerewa took advantage of a wealth of possession and pace along the flanks - with players like Anaru Thompson standing out - to pile up first-half points before Otaua evened things up in the second spell. Otaua's Tumei Kepa, Uncle Paora and Eru Croft helped stem the flow of points and get them back into the game, but with the experience of Micky Tanenui and Harry Shortland on Moerewa's side, the home side were never going to surrender. The referee for the match was a no-show so Moerewa coach Tom Tauranga took over the whistle. City Knights beat Takahiwai 40-12, while Portland had a win on the road against Northern Wairoa 54-28 and Hikurangi matched that with an away win over Bay Slayers 38-26.
