League: Last flurry keeps Hikurangi in lead

Centre Caleb Henare scored a late try to keep Hikurangi ahead of the chasing pack by outpointing a promising Takahiwai Warriors.

The 28-24 win sees them increase their lead in the Whangarei and Districts rugby league competition after second-placed Hokianga stumbled in Kaitaia.

Hikurangi player-coach Joe Rau said any win was a good one at Takahiwai but it was anything but a controlled performance at times with the home side pushing them hard.

"They definitely had us pressing the panic button for a while and in the end we were pretty happy to come away with the points," he said.

Takahiwai were the first to score in the match before Hikurangi countered and the match continued in the same vein until Henare sealed the deal with his try in the final minutes of the match.

Takahiwai coach Shane Hool said Hikurangi were the team to beat in the competition but he was very pleased with his side's performance.

"They were great, especially the young guys - some of them are playing their first season of league - they've really come on so much," he said.

Rau agreed with his opposite and said the side had improved hugely since their meeting in the first round.

"Takahiwai are an even younger side than we are and they were awesome today," Rau said.

He said while Henare sealed the deal, it was his brother Jarom, playing in the second row, who was their outstanding performer during the close match.

The other close encounter of the weekend saw the Moerewa Tigers move into second place in the competition, thanks to another late rally.

Second rower Adaneil Thompson set the home crowd alight with the winner, after the visitors started the second spell strongly and at one stage led by 10 points.

Otaua showed they had turned a corner in the season with a comprehensive 42-26 victory over Kaikohe.

It is their second straight win after losing all but one game in the first round and they are aiming to move off the bottom of the table in the weeks to come.

The Wairoa Bulls continued their strong home form with a 34-20 win over City Knights, while Marist were too strong for Hora Hora in the Whangarei derby match, eventually winning 48-28.

Muriwhenua Falcons had the measure of the Hokianga Pioneers in Kaitaia, outpacing their northern neighbours 34-10.