Kaikohe favoured as final four contest cut-throat playoffs

It is last-chance saloon for the Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League top four teams this weekend, as they battle out the playoffs at Moerewa's Simson Park.
Kaikohe Lions head into the playoffs in pole position having snagged the minor premiership following the cancellation of their game in hand with Bay Slayers on Wednesday.
WCDRL chairman Sonny Hohepa said the match was called off due to a lack of adequate lighting at Kerikeri Domain, where the game was to be played.
"The teams settled on one point each - which took Kaikohe to first place on the table, one point ahead of Hikurangi and Moerewa," he said.
Hikurangi and Moerewa were second equal after the last round on the weekend, but Hikurangi snuck ahead into second place on points for and against.
Bay Slayers extra point left them in fifth spot, one point behind Takahiwai - who hung on to the fourth place and the final playoff's berth.
Last week the Northern Advocate reported Bay Slayers were going to lodge an appeal to New Zealand Rugby League over not meeting WCDRL criteria of not fielding school boys teams, but Hohepa said the club had not yet lodged an appeal.
Tomorrow's opening match at Simson Park will be a repeat of last year's grand final, between second-placed Hikurangi and third-placed Moerewa.
Moerewa dominated early in the competition, while Hikurangi started their charge during the last half of the season and have been relentless since.
The second playoff is between minor premiers Kaikohe Lions and Takahiwai - with the odds favouring Kaikohe after dominant performances this season.
Kaikohe have only lost three games this year - round 11 to City Knights, round 12 to Hikurangi and back in round four to Takahiwai, by a massive 70 points when Kaikohe were heavily depleted. Kaikohe sought revenge on Takahiwai during round 13, defeating them convincingly at Lindvart Park, 42-24.
Normally the club season would include a semifinal, where the loser of game one in the playoffs would play the winner of the second game, while the winner of game one would have advanced directly to the final.
However, the club season was shortened by three rounds this year to ensure it was completed before the start of representative season on August 29, and it was decided the two playoff winners would play a straight grand final at Jubilee Park on August 28.
Kick off between the Hikurangi Stags and Moerewa Tigers is at 1pm tomorrow, while the game between Kaikohe Lions and Takahiwai Warriors gets under way at 2.30pm. Both matches will be played at Simson Park, Moerewa. Entry is by gold coin donation.
City Knights' Herewini Edmonds and Hikurangi Stags' Isaia Turvua have been added to the Northern Swords Premier squad, who kick off their representative season in the National Zonal Competition in Kaikohe on September 5, against Counties Manukau. The Northern Swords have a bye in round one of the inaugural nationwide competition.