Munroe wins Blues release

Lachie Munro looks like he'll be the only Blues Super Rugby player cut loose to play in the Southern Districts Premier rugby club competition tomorrow.
Rene Ranger and Jared Payne have both told to take the weekend off to recover from the team's hectic schedule during the first half of the competition. However, Munro will turn out for his club side Mid Western in their match against premier grade newcomers Otamatea Hawks.
The Northland utility back has been a regularly used substitute in the Blues campaign to date so assistant coach Bryce Woodward wanted him to get some game time against the Hawks.
Mid Western coach Simon Cauty said he was expecting Munro to get some game time, but he still was still waiting to get the final go-ahead from Blues coach Pat Lam yesterday.
The second round of the competition gets underway with some interesting match-ups between last year's semifinalists.
Hora Hora will provide another big test for Mid Northern, after the 2010 champions opened with a win over the Western Sharks at Toll Stadium last Saturday. Hora Hora piled on a big score against the Hawks in round one, but will have their work cut out against Mid Northern at Hora Hora Park.
The Sharks will be looking to bounce back from last week when they host Hikurangi at Farmlands Park. Hikurangi, following a comprehensive win over Wellsford last week, will be wanting to continue their winning ways and will also want to wipe out the memory of a flogging they took in Dargaville towards the end of last season.
Kamo and Marist face off in an all-Whangarei encounter at Kamo. Kamo were opening round winners over Old Boys last week while Marist lost to Mid Western.
The final match at Wellsford's Centennial Park sees Old Boys squaring off with the home side. Neither side will want to lose two onend so the match should provide plenty of intensity. All matches kick off at 2.15pm.