LEAGUE - Local lads rise to the challenge at junior contest

The future for Northland Rugby League looks good with Whangarei City under-14s flying the flag high at a northern junior tournament in Hopu Hopu last week.
Although the team was not a provincial selection, they more than held their own against provincial teams at the tournament.
They played their toughest match first with a game against a very big Waikato U-14 team, going down 10-38. Their next game was against the province's U-13 team which was much closer with the hosts again winning 12-20.
The Whangarei team saved their best form to last despite missing two of their starting forwards Eddie Posini and Rhys Harvey, narrowly beaten by Bay of Plenty U-14s 18-20.
The injuries to the forwards meant the workload of prop Billy-Rae Murray was exceptional and along with nuggety halfback Thomas Barnsley, they were named as the two outstanding players of the tournament for the northern team by coach John Komene.
The two players, along with Damen Beynon, Jarod Gilligan, Mack Samuelu-Sage, Finn O'Grady, Ayden Watt, Lincoln Williams and Hamish Thorpe have been selected to trial this weekend for the Northland elite U-14 team and the development team.
Two sides will play a trial game as a curtain raiser to this weekend's North v South senior match at Moerewa's Simson Park.