LEAGUE - Bird gets the best out of Portland's talent

Portland began installing some mana back in their team by avoiding a "walloping" at home by the Bay Slayers in the Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League competition.
The home side sidestepped the late comeback Bay Slayers threw at them to win 38-22, after creating a three-try buffer during the first half.
Prior to the game, Bay Slayers had hoped for a big win after a promising start to their season with victories against Wairoa and Hikurangi. Vincent Joyce, Mike Campbell, Maare Katene, Matt Rogers and Darren Himiona crossed the line attempting to overtake the Portland underdogs, but they couldn't hold off the determined team. This season was one for rebuilding the Portland team and club atmosphere, said new coach Craig Bird, who recently returned to the club he played for 12 years ago.
Assisted by Jason Hita - a former Junior Kiwi and Northland rugby representative - Bird said he was trying to get Portland to change their perspective, from a team who never trained to one that now trains every Tuesday and Thursday.
"When you train as a team, you play as a team," he said.
Bird's impact is beginning to show, with Portland coming close to defeating Moerewa last weekend, and a more cohesive Portland hitting the paddock on Saturday, winning their second game from four this season with a team full of youthful talent and old heads.
"We have some real talent out there this year," Bird said. "Michael Solase our loose forward, is really coming out of his shell this year." The 22-year-old shed any weight hindering his performance previously by running in a hat-trick.
Meanwhile, Bird said 18-year-old halfback Cassidy Wall, who switched codes and went from playing First XV rugby at Whangarei Boys' High School last year to league, was doing a great job, as was 18-year-old prop Josh Rogan.
Skipper Charles Lawrence was a man of few words, Bird said, but always led from example and he showed his troops the way, crossing the line for a try on Saturday, with Tai Gage-Nepia, Justin Paniona and Charles Shelford, who also kicked five conversions.
With the goal to upset a few teams this season, Portland definitely got off to the right start, with sombre Bay Slayers heading North after the match.
"We have no great aims of making the grand final as this year is a rebuilding one for us but, if it comes, we'll take it," Bird said.
In other matches, 2008 premiers Takahiwai remain unbeaten after they defeated Wairoa 38-18, despite Wairoa's efforts to quash their record.
Wairoa attacked the visitors' goal line persistently for the first 15 minutes after halftime - with Takahiwai up by two points, but could not catch Takahiwai when they broke away to secure the win.
Hikurangi suffered a narrow loss - their third for the season to Moerewa at home, going down 32-36, while City Knights went down 66-6 to the stronger Kaikohe outfit at Kaikohe.