LEAGUE - Tri-seriestightensin final rounds

WHANGAREI rugby league teams fared better in the second round of the junior tri-series at Moerewa's Simson Park on Sunday.
The age group inter-district series' second round had the under-16 teams competing for the first time.
The highly skilled Whangarei team met a newly formed and very raw team from Moerewa/Bay College in the main game of the day.
Coached by Hikurangi's Joe Rau, the side played well in the wet conditions to run out eventual winners 58-6.
Barnstorming running from Setima Paraha was well complemented by innovative support play from Errol Lee, Blake Gray, Jordan Rau and Luke Tuimavave while the side was well marshalled by captain Gavin Causer.
The Far North team remained unbeaten in the U14s grade, coming away with two wins to cement their spot at the top of the table.
Whangarei held on to take second place with the Bay of Islands selection close behind in third place.
In the U12s grade, the Far North and Bay of Islands both had wins.
The Far North team remained on the top of the table, closely followed by the Bay team.
Whangarei defaulted their game, leaving the Bay teams to fight it out with the Far North for supremacy in this age group.
In the U10s Whangarei was too good for the Far North team, their 36-0 win emphatic.
The Whangarei side have a loss and two wins, while the Far North team has two losses and a win.
Whangarei continued their winning ways in the U8s, brushing aside unbeaten Kaitaia before accounting for the Mid-North team, to remain unbeaten in the series to date.
In the U6s, the Far North team remains unbeaten with one round to go.
The two teams behind them are looking to get closer, if not beat them, in the final week of play this weekend.
With the competition so tight in all the grades, this Sunday's final round of the tri-series in Kaitaia is already eagerly awaited.
As well as the tri-series, the players will be competing for selection in various Northland representative teams.