LEAGUE - Struggling Marist hang by a thread

The future of Marist Brothers in this year's Whangarei and Districts Rugby League competition hangs in the balance. Marist had their worst ever loss in the competition last weekend with a 130-10 defeat at the hands of the Bay Slayers.
Senior players, including manager Doug Makiri, said everyone would have their say about the club's future at the team practice.
"We'll see what everyone thinks and what they feel about carrying on and we'll go from there," he said.
"We'll know soon if we have a team in the competition or not, but my feeling is that we probably won't," Makiri said.
The manager said the team had only about eight regulars to choose from, with another five or six players who shouldn't be playing, but regularly ignored their injuries just so the side could play each weekend.
"There's really nobody else who wants to play for the team, so it's a bit pointless to carry on," Makiri said.
Marist have struggled to put a full strength side on the park all season and things were no different last Saturday - it was again an effort to fill the gaps left by experienced players, with not much to choose from.
"We have got a lot of injured players and we should have defaulted last week. We had too many inexperienced players up against some of the old Hokianga Pioneers outfit who are a hard team. That's what the score was about really," Makiri said.
With Marist in doubt for the final game of the first round tomorrow, the Northern Wairoa Bulls are likely to pick up their second win in as many weeks, after their upset over Ngawha Saints last week.
The other three matches this weekend are all too close to pick.
Hikurangi Stags host Moerewa Tigers in a match likely to be very close and entertaining as both sides like to take the ball wide to attack.
Portland Panthers, who are a point behind leaders Takahiwai Warriors on the table, host third-placed Kaikohe Lions in what should be the match of the round.
Takahiwai host a buoyant Bay Slayers, who showed last week that they have shrugged off their early season problems and are readying themselves for a more competitive second round.
Takahiwai may be a bridge too far for the Slayers at this stage, but they'll be eager to prove they are still a tough challenge.