RUGBY - Final place is a Dunn deal for Hora Hora

A brilliant solo try from centre Warren Dunn has unexpectedly flung Hora Hora into the final of the Joe Morgan Memorial club rugby championship against defending champions Mid Northern this weekend.
Hora Hora beat Wellsford 15-5 at Wellsford on Saturday, completing a remarkable resurgence for the team, which started the season with only a slim chance of qualifying for the semifinals.
But it took a touch of individual magic from Dunn to set Hora Hora on the path to the final in a tense semifinal.
Ahead by just 3-0 at halftime, Hora Hora were quick to launch into action in the second spell. Dunn then gathered the ball and charged at the Wellsford defence before chipping over the top, regathering and scoring the match-clinching try.
It was a thrilling highlight to a rugged game that may yet be the perfect preparation for Hora Hora to challenge Mid Northern's season-long stranglehold on the silverware.
Wellsford were a tough opponent but had been weakened by the demands of the representative side that robbed them of their midfield back combination of Aden Dewes and Leo Taliu. Both are in the Northland team now.
The Wellsford scrum was strong and the lineout dominant, but the sheer spirit of the Hora Hora defence was enough to carry them to victory.
Wind and driving rain meant the game at Hukerenui was never going to be a spectacular affair but the sheer force of the well-drilled Mid Northern forward pack proved the difference.
Lock Kira Taihere was a powerful figure throughout while No8 Frank Roberts was a critical playmaker in the testing conditions. Mid Northern managed only one try playing with the wind in the first half but came close to bagging a try into the wind in the second.
Marist were seemingly overwhelmed by the occasion and were never able to exert pressure on Mid Mid Northern long enough to get into the game.
But Mid Northern were never comfortable, their only try coming after a snap decision to tap and run a penalty and, instead of banking a certain three points from in front of the sticks, heaving the ball wide to the wing where flanker Nathan Smith was loitering.
Even without David Holwell on deck, Mid Northern's tactical know-how was noticeable too, with Vaughan Going assuming the playmaking duties in the No10 jersey and Brad Miller a rock on defence as No12.
The Marist try, scored by winger Isa Nawaqa, came in the last seconds of the match. The Marist side though never got the gist of how to play with the wind howling at their backs.
The final is expected to be played at Okara Park in Whangarei on Saturday.
* RESULTS
Semifinals:
Premier: Mid Northern 14 (Nathen Smith try; Kira Taihere 3 pens) Marist 5 (Isa Nawaqa try).
Hora Hora 15 (Warren Dunn, Leon Baigent tries; Leon Baigent pen, con) Wellsford 5 (Stu Oldfield try)
Reserves
Marist 8 Mid Northern 5; Hora Hora 16 Wellsford 13.
Promotion//Relegation: Old Boys 28 Southern 7.