Kerikeri in storming win over Kaikohe

Kerikeri coach Chubb Komene demanded more heart from his side after failing to fire against Ohaeawai last weekend - and he got it.
The home side left it all on the park in beating Kaikohe 31-5 and ran in five tries to one.
But they didn't have it all their own way. The young Kaikohe side, in a rebuilding phase, muscled up in the front row, competed at rucks and mauls and had long periods of possession that tested the Kerikeri defence.
Barnstorming runs by  No8 Phillip Cowan gave Kerikeri tacklers a few headaches and the link, 19-year-old half-back Lawrence Hemara, was another stand-out.
Much praise has to be given to Kerikeri's Matt Choat for the game to even go ahead, albeit about 20 minutes late. With no referee, Choat, a qualified whistle-blower, put his hand up to officiate and within minutes he was awarding Kerikeri's first try.
Playing into a first-half gale, Kerikeri were fortunate not to have to adjust any pre-match game plans, thanks to the piercing boot of first-five Mike Cook. Smart option taking had them keeping it in tight, then releasing to a potent backline when on.
Teoihie Edwards put Kerikeri on the board when the slippery ball stuck in a puddle on the 22 and he toed it through. Kaikohe looked to have it under control as the cover defence slid but it squirted over the line for Edwards to slap a hand on it. Cook converted, 7-0.
Choat had his work cut out for him when the  intensity brought some biff into the match, but the young referee stamped his authority and Kerikeri extended the lead with a 40m dash to the chalk. Right wing Tom Van Viet benefited from some slick inside back work, and Van Viet tore away untouched.
Then the gale turned hurricane. Enter plenty of "ticker".
With Cook's deep probes,  perfectly angled to slice through the wind and towards touch, the home side had the ability to get out of trouble if needed - and for the last 30 minutes of the half, it was very much needed.
Kaikohe bashed, crashed and banged away but could not break the Kerikeri resolve.
They turned, 20-point wind at their backs, and with a 12-point lead before the gale decided to go.
But Kerikeri didn't need the wind, the potent backline firing on all cylinders to run in three more tries, none better than a solo effort by halfback Craig Joyce who went from the base of the scrum at halfway and could not be caught.
Kaikohe's Hemara got a late consolation try, 31-5, but the efforts of Kerikeri's Haydn Jolly at the breakdown, Edwards with two tries, Chris Cleveland and Ben Scott in the front row, and a lethal backline were the difference.