LEAGUE - Beaten Storm leave field with heads held high

The curtain fell on the Northern Storm's two-year involvement in the Bartercard Cup competition at Homeworld Stadium on Saturday but the script wasn't written in Hollywood.
Instead the Storm were blown away by competition leaders the Auckland Lions 52-12, but the youthful Storm team still received a rousing round of applause as they left the field.
Early indications the game wasn't going to go according to plan for the locals came with an uncertain build-up. Thursday's rain meant the curtain-raiser - the Northland club final between Takahiwai and Moerewa - was moved from the ground at the last moment, taking a good chunk of the crowd to Tikipunga Park.
The anticipated buy-in by Hikurangi players didn't eventuate but Marist players did support Storm coach Phil Marsh's call and added experience and strength to the side.
Finally, to top it all off, just as the hooter sounded the heavens opened.
Auckland's poor handling combined with some gutsy Storm tackling saw the home side leading the game at the end of the first quarter after Joziah Neho - one of a number of emerging young Northland stars on show - had scored a great try after continuous Storm pressure on the visitors.
Just for one fleeting second did the Storm threaten to pull off the mother of all upsets. Anthony Swann had regained the lead for Auckland but from the kick-off Shane Pumipi somehow got the ball and set sail for the line; he was caught just short and the chance died.
The Storm spent too much of the half tackling and began to tire. With Jack Walker and Conrad King, two of their best in the spell, on the bench, they conceded two tries just before the break that saw them trailing 6-20.
It was too far to come back and the second half was all Auckland as they ran in try after try but the Storm never gave up. Captain King scored a consolation try and the Storm deserved their applause when they trailed off the field, beaten but still defiant.