Lions are first-time champs

The Kaikohe Lions played with heart and desire to lift the Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League Premiership trophy for the first time, overcoming last year's premiers Hikurangi Stags 38-26, in the 2010 grand final.
Lions coach Benson Selwyn's nerves were rattled on Saturday as he watched his side struggle at Jubilee Park for the first 20 minutes, stunned by a well-drilled and fit Hikurangi unit.
"Our first half was terrible but we came out in the second half and did the business. The boys came to the party, dug deep and played as a team for 80 minutes, which is what won us the game."
Skipper and Kaikohe stalwart Hamuera Tohu said he had been at the club for as long as he could remember - and his team had put in the hard yards, training as a team for the 70th time this year last Thursday, and had finally won a title to go with the minor premiership they secured two weeks ago.
Around 1000 spectators took in the thrilling game, where the Stags had early try-scoring opportunities. Steven Rau found a hole in the Lions defence and charged over the line at the start of a new set, to score the first points of the match.
Jarom Henare missed the conversion, but shortly after the restart, halfback Logan Wendt, who was dangerous every time he had possession, chipped the ball ahead, charged between three defenders during his chase to dot the ball down. Henare missed his second attempt at goal, and while the Stags' goal kicking was askew, there was nothing wrong with their attacking play. The Stags resumed possession again, and cranked
the pressure any time Kaikohe touched the ball, forcing a turnover. Left centre Isaia Naqawa's pace went unchallenged and he made huge metres for the Stags, and combined effectively with Wendt, who sent the ball out to Chandos Thrupp looming on the right wing. Thrupp went across for Hikurangi's third unconverted try in 15 minutes.
Finally, Kaikohe gained possession long enough to create play, and shipped the ball out to the left wing where Tohu waited and crossed the chalk for his first try which went unconverted.
The Lions began to settle into their game, using their sets, making metres and throwing the ball around freely. Five minutes after Tohu's try, standoff Anthony Clyde scored his first, which this time Shontaine Tau converted, closing the gap to 12-10.
Just as Kaikohe found momentum, Hikurangi's Innocent Tuimavave managed to strip the ball in a tackle and pinned his ears back to score a blinder from the opposite end of the paddock. He did this despite having only 12 men as Wendt had earlier been sinbinned for a head-high tackle. Henare added another converted try,  giving Hikurangi a 22-10 lead at halftime.
The Lions emerged from the changing rooms a different side, after coach Benson Selwyn had "a chat" with his troops, and in the opening minutes, Kaikohe's Bodene Manahi went on to score a converted try set up by Tau.
After regaining the ball, Naqawa put the gas on once more and replied with one for the Stags, but a persistent Clyde quickly followed with two more tries, earning him player of the day status for his side.
While the Lions celebrated Clyde's hat-trick, Hikurangi's Henare remained on the ground in agony, with a suspected broken right ankle after tackling the Kaikohe player. It put a dampener on the celebrations - Henare was married ahead of Saturday's grand final - and was very late to his reception after having to go to hospital to get a cast put on.
When play resumed over five minutes later Tau missed the conversion of Clyde's third try, leaving the game tied up at 26-26, with 25 minutes remaining. Kaikohe upped the ante, and despite the solid wall of Hikurangi defence, Inoke Taufa beat six defenders to score a converted try, which put his side in the lead.
Kaikohe held on despite being challenged by the Stags and it was fitting the Lions skipper dotted the ball down in the final minute with Tau kicking the conversion to seal the premiership for Kaikohe.
It was a disappointing end to the season for Stags coach Joe Rau, but he could not have been more proud of his boys. "I thought we gave it all that we had and we were beaten by the other team, no excuses. It's been a while coming for Kaikohe and it's well deserved," he said.
Hikurangi's player of the day went to Stags skipper and prop Moses Cooper.
The playoff for third and fourth between Moerewa Tigers and Takahiwai Warriors was a nailbiter.  Takahiwai looked to have it in the bag, holding on to their narrow two-point lead until the final minute of the second half, when Moerewa scored to secure third place, winning 36-32.