League: Depleted Bay show true grit

Bay Slayers will grab their opportunities when they arise in the 2012 Whangarei City and Districts rugby league competition.

"This year the competition is really tight and there's a lot of strong teams coming through so you just have to take the points when you can get them," Bay Slayers manager Justin Webster said.

After starting strongly in Saturday's fourth round clash with Otaua, Bay Slayers had to dig deep to stay in the game during the second half, with only 12 players on the paddock.

The Slayers kicked off with 13 men, and by halftime were leading Otaua, 16-0. Early in the second half, however, they lost one of their troops to injury, and fatigue started to wrack the already depleted side.

Otaua fought back, and closed the gap on the hosts. The Bay managed to stay in the game, with huge efforts from Dayne Ritchie and Vincent Joyce who ran in a couple of quick tries, and the Bay just scraped in ahead of Otaua 32-30, to take the win and two points.

"We were missing a lot of players to different things. We are also a bit thin on the ground this year - we lost a few to the Pioneers, Kaitaia and Otaua, but that's the nature of the game ... it's just a matter of getting in touch with our players and getting them along," Webster said.

Meanwhile, the Hokianga Pioneers had a hard-fought match against Kaikohe, who have struggled in the first few weeks of the competition, having also lost many of their players to various Far North clubs. The Pioneers won, however, 46-36.

Moerewa got an important win under their belts, beating City 40-22 and reigning premiers Hikurangi suffered their first loss of the season, against a determined Wairoa Bulls.

The Bulls' gutsy 80 minute performance earned them a 28-26 victory over the Stags, beating them on their home ground Otaika Sports Park. Takahiwai had a convincing win over Hora Hora beating them 44-10 at Takahiwai Domain. Kaitaia had the bye.