LEAGUE: It's a bloodbath in the mud

Northern Wairoa Bulls continued their role as the giant slayers in this year's Whangarei senior rugby league competition by becoming the first team to beat Portland Panthers at home this season.
The result brought despair to Portland's supporters on Saturday after their second successive big loss and, in contrast, obvious joy to the Bulls players and supporters for their 40-14 demolition of the competition leaders.
The Bulls have a knack of playing well against the top sides - particularly in heavy conditions - and they were ahead 22-6 at half-time in the mud at Portland.
"We're our own worst enemy on dry fields. We throw the ball around too much and end up losing possession but when it's wet the boys are more cautious," Bulls manager Charlie Selkirk said.
The Bulls always seemed to have someone backing up during Saturday's match. Good support of runners turned half-breaks into serious damage against Portland, who were a couple of their key players short for the match, including playmaker Jackson Katene.
Despite Portland's evident personnel problems, nothing could be taken away from the Bulls' victory and they claimed their second top-four scalp in the second round after earlier upsetting the Ngawha Saints.
"It's one of the better games we've played all year, we told the guys that this game against the top side was a measure of how far we've come this season, and the guys took that on board and then took it to them," Selkirk said.
"We've got a team of individuals but they all put it together on Saturday as a team and that's how we won so convincingly."
Bulls captain BJ Marsden continued to lead the way for his side with three tries in the match, while Tamati Dick was also exceptional and picked up a double.
The result means that Portland have conceded more than 100 points in the last two games and they will need a quick reversal of fortune if they still want to earn the top place for the playoffs.
Takahiwai Warriors were also celebrating Portland's demise after a visit to Simson Park saw them pick up two points for a 24-14 win over Moerewa Tigers.
The Warriors now lead the competition by one point ahead of Ngawha, Portland and Kaikohe, who all share second place.
The match at Moerewa was a typically close affair until the home side's in-form standoff, Anaru Thompson, was sent from the field for a high shot early in the second spell.
Two Takahiwai players were also sinbinned in the match, as the referee struggled to keep control of a high-stakes game that was played in terrible conditions.
Centre Tere George and lock Vern Wilcox were the pick of the bunch for the home side while the Tuhoro brothers, Deane at prop, Manu at lock and Hori at centre, were all outstanding for the visitors.
Ngawha Saints needed all their much-vaunted fitness to overcome the challenge of the Bay Slayers. The Slayers conceded two late tries to finish 22-30 behind.
Marist's season can't end quickly enough as they fell to yet another heavy loss, this time to Hikurangi Stags in the final match of the round. Hikurangi ran out 86-0 winners.