RUGBY - Battle for top four places a real cliffhanger

Top four berths in the Joe Morgan Memorial competition will go down to the wire next weekend after club rugby clashes on Saturday left the six teams at the top of the table still separated by only six points.
Mid Northern regained the competition lead on 62 points after a 5-3 win over bottom-placed Whangarei Old Boys at Hukerenui.
Mid Northern had lost three players to the Northland team and rested another half-dozen with niggling injuries. But club captain Glenn Williams said that should not detract from a fine effort by Old Boys, whose forwards were stronger in the wet.
Old Boys coach Colin Shirley was pleased with his team's gutsy effort, saying the players had "really stood up".
The score was 5-3 at half-time and Old Boys missed a crucial penalty in the second half, which could have given them an upset win. First-five Brent Morgan scored the try for Mid Northern and wing Gary Wakelin kicked a penalty for Old Boys.
Wellsford with 61 points is runner-up on the table after a 12-8 win over Marist, now fourth with 57 points.
Second-five Johnny MoiMoi kicked four penalties for Wellsford while his opposite, Sione Tuitavake, scored a try for Marist and first-five Hayden Hutchinson kicked a penalty. Wellsford manager Mike Fletcher said his team's forwards and defence had secured the win in rain at Wellsford.
Hora Hora moved up to third place with 60 points after beating Kamo 17-13 on the Hora Hora home ground.
The Kamo forwards had the better scrum and lineout technique, but the hungry Hora Hora team had less trouble handling the greasy ball. They triumphed with sound defence on their line and good clearing kicks by wing Leon Baigent.
Baigent scored one of Hora Hora's three tries, with lock Mark Bennett and captain Warren Dunn notching up the others. Baigent converted one.
For Kamo - now fifth on the table with 56 points - first-five Tony Monaghan and halfback Freddie Van Loggerrenburg scored tries, and Monaghan kicked a penalty.
Hikurangi also came up with 56 points on the table after beating Western Sharks 8-7 at Dargaville.
Wing Andrew Curry scored a try and centre Josh Edmonds kicked a penalty for Hikurangi, while hooker Craig Williamson hooker dotted down and second-five Tane Takulua converted for the Sharks, now with 26 points on the table.
Waipu persevered to beat Mid Western 22-18 at Waipu's Centennial Park, giving the home side 18 points on the table, three less than their rivals.
With four minutes to go, Mid Western had their noses in front 18-17 but failed to anticipate a Waipu quick tap from a penalty which led to a try.
The Waipu points came from tries by first-five Toby Phillips, flanker Brett Murray, halfback Ben Macken and hooker Mark Owen, with Phillips kicking a conversion.
Blindside flanker Harley Murray and lock Brad Taylor were stalwarts in the Waipu pack.
Mid Western first-five Jason Morgan and fullback Francisco scored tries while centre Brooke Gilmour starred with two penalties, a conversion and a fine game which included setting up one of the tries. Mid Western coach Steve Carter was rueful about the result, saying his forwards had worked hard but the team "went to sleep" when they let in the final Waipu try.