Rugby: Crunch games whet the appetite

Northland's club rugby scene is set for the first real good old-fashioned showdown tomorrow as two powerhouse clubs go head-to-head.

Kamo host the newly-combined Old Boys Marist as both teams put their undefeated record on the line, with the premier reserve curtain raiser providing an exciting warm-up to the main event.

Since amalgamating, for this season at least, Old Boys Marist has had the luxury of stitching together what were two competitive premier teams into one.

Last year Marist were the better-performed of the combined teams, finishing fifth just behind the fourth place Kamo side, with Old Boys sitting one win back in seventh.

However, this year sees the combined strength of Old Boys and Marist take on the early pace-setters in both premier and reserve grades.

Kamo look to have the goods this season as both of its sides have won four-from-four, all of which have been bonus-point victories.

Just one point back, second place in the premier grade, sits Old Boys Marist, who also remains unbeaten but has one less bonus point - setting up a mouth-watering encounter.

In the reserve grade, Kamo's side has by far the best for and against record along with its four wins and four bonus points.

Old Boys Marist sit comfortable in fourth, six points ahead of Mid Northern but four behind Kamo, after suffering a close loss two weeks ago to the Western Sharks.

It's an unfamiliar position for Marist members of the team to be in after a dismal showing during the past two seasons where only five wins were recorded, four of which were in 2011.

Other hotly-contested premier grade matches this weekend sees Mid Western (fifth) take on Hikurangi (ninth) and Otamatea (eighth) hoping to find some more of the early season form they showed when they face Hora Hora (seventh) at home.

Wellsford (fourth) will be hoping Rene Ranger is given a week of club rugby as his side is up against it when they take on the third placed Mid Northern in Wellsford.

The final game sees the Western Sharks (sixth) looking to swing their wins column in their favour, currently two wins-two losses, as they host the struggling Waipu who sit bottom of the table with no wins recorded as yet.