Lions on prowl for big final

A halftime rev-up from coach Benson Selwyn gave the Kaikohe Lions the inspiration they needed to get past a defiant Takahiwai in Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League playoffs.
A large crowd gathered at Moerewa's Simson Park on Saturday to watch the first semifinal between Hikurangi and Moerewa, followed by the much anticipated clash between minor premiers Kaikohe and fourth-placed Takahiwai.
Takahiwai were out to prove a point from kick off, and led 20-12 at the halfway mark, with Jared Hemara, Ross Macfarlane, Aaron Ferguson and Jesse Epiha running in tries.
Whatever Selwyn said to his troops at half time worked, and the Lions started playing with the same flair which saw them win the minor premiership with only three losses this season.
The Lions dug deep and wore down Takahiwai's tiring defence, slipping through gaps and capitalising on loose ball. Takahiwai's Ferguson and Hori Tuhoro added another try apiece and Kaikohe had closed the gap to equalise with Takahiwai, 30-30, when the Lion's Hamuera Tohu saw his opportunity and dotted the ball down, which was followed by a runaway 40m try from Shontain Tau, to lead Kaikohe to their comeback 30-42 victory.
Anthony Clyde was impressive for the Lions, snagging four tries, and Stacey Nimmo and Te Wairongoa Tohu also scored one each, with Tau kicking four conversions.
Although pleased to win their berth in next week's grand final at Jubilee Park, the game left Selwyn a little frustrated. "Takahiwai dominated that game for about 60 minutes before we finally woke up. We were playing catch-up footy and we can't afford to do that in the final ... We will need to play 80 minutes of football not only the 20 minutes we played today." ,
Selwyn said his side would be ready and raring to go for the grand final, where they will meet the 2009 champion Hikurangi Stags.
The Stags, who finished the season in second place on the table, romped home to win Saturday's other match against the Moerewa Tigers, 68-20, in a rematch of last year's final.
Again, Hikurangi were too strong for the Tigers, relentless on attack and solid in defence.
Hikurangi skipper Moses Cooper said his side were given a bit of a heads-up about Moerewa as they played them in the last game of the round robin - which Hikurangi also won, 31-22.
"That game was a lot closer as their key strike player William Wiki was playing for them ... he's away with the New Zealand Maori team at the moment and Moerewa really missed him out there," Cooper said.
Northern Swords recruits Isaia Turvua and Jordan Rau were out to impress, with Rau scoring a hat trick, and the pair were highly rated by Cooper.
The Stags showed they have what it takes at the business end of the competition, and they will be looking to continue that momentum this weekend.
Takahiwai and Moerewa will play the curtain raiser to the final, competing for third spot.