Rugby: Coach sounds warning for buoyant Marist

Marist have had their best start to the senior club rugby season for several years.

But new coach Mark Seymour says his young side have some big challenges ahead - not in the least this week's match against Kamo - if they want to maintain their position on the table.

The former Northland coach and Hora Hora stalwart answered the SOS call to "help out" and coach the club's premier side after former Marist boss Donny Stevenson went to Perth a few weeks ago to join his family.

Seymour believes the competition is more even than it has been in recent years, with few one-sided victories, meaning that teams have to be at their best every week to get results.

"There are plenty of good, young players at Marist and they've been having a good year at the moment. They've been up and down over the past few weeks but they're in a good position to do well this year," he said.

The young side were given a bit of a lesson last week against the experienced Mid Northern side and Seymour will see that they benefit from the loss. He says the Kamo forward pack in particular will be a big challenge when they run on to the Kamo Rec tomorrow.

"Kamo are finding some form and getting some rep players back. On paper, they're really good quality players and that's a challenge for us, but that's what the game's about - measuring yourself in the competition," he said.

In other clashes this weekend, Hora Hora host Wellsford in another effort to get their season back on track, while Mid Western welcome winless Otamatea to Maungakaramea.

Mid Northern host Whangarei Old Boys at Hukerenui, while the Western Sharks play Hikurangi at Farmlands Park in Dargaville.