Portland snatch trophy with Takahiwai upset

Portland  became the first team to roll competition giants Takahiwai this season - and they returned the Pitman Cup back to their trophy cabinet in the process.
Last year's premiers Takahiwai started round eight of the Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League competition strongly, scoring in the opening minutes of the game with a try from Cole Tarau out wide. The try was not converted.
A fired-up Portland team struck back in reply when stand-in skipper Charles "Chiefie" Shelford stamped his mark on the game, sneaking through Takahiwai defence to score and converted his own try, putting Portland in the lead.
There were plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides during the first stanza, but loose balls and turnovers plagued the teams in the boggy conditions which made it a tough battle.
Portland, a bit more at home in the mud, saw an opening minutes before the halftime mark and Kass Wall stomped across the line for a try, converted by Shelford, clocking up the points which would prove to be the difference.
It was still anyone's game at halftime - and alarm bells signalled within the Portland troops when Takahiwai emerged early after the break to score.
Once again, the visitors did not convert their try, leaving Portland with a four point buffer which they held onto through a huge defensive effort from Graham Edmonds, Tai Gage-Nepia, Dain Guttenbeil and Michael Salise.
Coach Craig Bird was later to say they worked themselves to a standstill.
"We were pretty stoked but we're not getting carried away," he said after the victory which saw them retake the Pitman Cup off Takahiwai who  had lifted it from Portland in round one.
"We gained confidence from the win but we still have the second round to go, and that was just one of the trophies we wanted ... it's up to us to lift the level now."
Takahiwai coach Mark Freeman said it was not surprising Portland had come away with a win.
"We expected Portland to come out firing and they did," he said.
"This was the one game they wanted so there  were no surprises there really.
"We didn't play to the conditions - and they did."
Takahiwai have lacked a natural goal kicker this season which came back to haunt them on Saturday with both tries left unconverted.
Both conversions from out wide were difficult ones Freeman said, but the hunt for a goal kicker within the side would continue.
The victory lifted Portland into second equal on the ladder with Moerewa, behind Takahiwai.
Bay Slayers are not far behind with their 38-16 victory over Wairoa Bulls on Saturday. 
Moerewa were left without an opponent after   Kaikohe defaulted.
A report  as to why the game did not go ahead had not been filed, Whangarei City and Districts president Sonny Hohepa said.
The City Knights' clash with Hikurangi was cancelled due to wet weather resulting in poor field conditions and would be scheduled in the near future.