RUGBY - Hikurangi in battle for semifinal position

The battle to try to secure a semifinal spot in this year's Joe Morgan Memorial premier club rugby competition is suddenly heating up, but not as hot as the politics to try to promote players into the Northland representative side is getting.
Hikurangi finally awoke from their early season slumber and charged into top four reckoning with a 33-29 victory over Wellsford at Hikurangi on Saturday while Hora Hora and Marist recorded handsome victories to underline their campaigns.
Marist thumped Old Boys 36-5 and Hora Hora romped to a one-sided 90-5 win over a hapless Waipu. Mid Northern scraped home by one point (14-13) over Kamo and the Western Sharks fended off Mid Western 20-15.
But while the battle to secure a top four spot is already shaping up as a gripping wrestle between six leading clubs, the sideline banter on Saturday was more focussed on what shape the Northland squad will take this season.
Several members of the last season's Northland squad have departed, sparking debate about who will make the cut when Northland coaches Mark Anscombe and Bruce Robertson announce a squad in July for this year's Air NZ Cup competition.
It will be quite an announcement, as budget cuts have axed plans to host an early season training camp as has become custom and a rotation of players getting tested in regular squad training sessions in Whangarei instead.
There are 14 contracted players and another eight participating in the squad sessions by invitation.
Now fervent club supporters are eager to get their star players recognised, and are prepared to start making loud noises to make sure their players get noticed.
On Saturday it was Hikurangi's turn to start shouting, with Damian Fakafanua being hoisted as a midfielder, Henry Foy's promise as a goal kicking prospect and the return of prodigal son, loose forward Brad Christensen, exciting the Hikurangi faithful.
Wellsford replied by pointing out the benefits of having Aiden Dewes in their backline and are keen that Leo Taliu keeps his spot as a contracted player in the squad.
Certainly all five were prominent in an intriguing clash at Hikurangi on Saturday, a match that went into over-drive in the last 10 minutes as Wellsford tried to come back from a eight point deficit to clinch the victory.
Dewes was a star for Wellsford with his elusive runs from broken play in the No.12 jersey while Taliu's distribution skills were also evident.
But Fakafanua scored two tries and was the central figure of a robust Hikurangi backline effort, even if the tackling was inaccurate.
All four would have pleased Robertson, the Northland backs coach, who was on hand to see the game, even if his post match notes were not quite as glowing as the encouragement from their sideline supporters.
"I am happy that we have got good second five material, but we are still looking for a centre to put his hand up," Robertson said.
"Guys that I have seen will all make second fives, but I haven't seen someone who I think would step up to representative level at centre which is my main concern at the moment," he said.
The standard of backline play has been a concern from day one, and looms as one of the more perplexing areas of concern for the Northland coaches. With New Zealand Sevens star Rene Ranger and the try scoring feats of Highlanders Super 14 winger Fetu Vainikolo ensuring Northland will have firepower on the wing, the midfield questions remain unanswered.
New signing Jared Payne, formerly Waikato, is seen as a fullback.
Christensen's return from a playing stint overseas will add some ginger to the loose forward battle, although he has not found favour with Anscombe previously and will queue behind former Blues and North Harbour star Blair Urlich who is already training with the squad.
Mid Western's South American prop Francesco Deforms is a candidate in the front row while Mid Northern are pushing for Tyler Ashworth at hooker and flanker Bo Haika to get a chance.
The Sharks have new lock Peter Bond making an impact and Kamo already have fullback Mike Davis contracted in the squad. Marist are hoping Tavita Jurgensen will forge on and win a contract as a utility back but are pushing new halfback Kaino Kaino as well.
But there is plenty of work to do yet.
• Next week: Hora Hora vs Hikurangi; Kamo vs Wellsford; Western Sharks vs Waipu; Marist vs Mid Northern; Mid Western vs Whg Old Boys.
RESULTS: JOE MORGAN MEMORIAL
Premier
Marist 36 (Junior Gnadolo, Kameli Delana 2, Tim Netzler, Reece Norman, Luke Muggeridge tries; Muggeridge , Tavita Jurgensen 2 cons), Old Boys 5 (Donny Rudolph try).
Prem reserves: 42-0 Marist.
Mid Northern 15 (David Holwell, Ihaka Kepa tries; Holwell pen, con), Kamo 14(Fred Van Loggerenburg, Matt Miller tries, Matt Buckley 2 cons).
Prem reserves: 13-all.
Hikurangi 33 (Damon Rawiri, Jared Payne, Damian Fakafanua 2 tries; Henry Foy 2, Josh Edmonds pens, Foy 2 cons), Wellsford 29 (Aiden Dewes, Scott Brady, Takura Sukuma, Atuere Davis tries; Johnny Moimoi 3, Dewes cons).
Prem reserves: 38-9 Wellsford.
W Sharks 20 (Solomon Palu 2 tries; Jamie Kay 2 pens, 2 cons), Mid Western 15 (Simon De La Sumoea, Rhys Williams tries; Brian Taihere, Brooke Gilmore pens).
Prem reserves: 39-3 Sharks.
Hora Hora 90 (Jamie Wattie, Alan Nesbit, Riley Dunn, Leon Baigent, Aaron Baigent, Logan Wendt, Luke Voss 2, Blair Urlich 3, Warren Dunn 3 tries; L Baigent 10 cons), Waipu 7 (Toby Phillips try, con).
Prem reserves: 39-0 Hora Hora.
POINTS - Premier:
Marist 28, Mid Northern 24, Hora Hora 24, Wellsford 22, Hikurangi 21, Kamo 18, Sharks 10, Waipu 4, Mid Western 2, Old Boys 0.
NORTHLAND UNDER-18
Kamo High 12 (Reuben Wright, Josh haenga tries; Tyler Landsdowne con), Kerikeri 10 (Mike Cook try; Cook pen, con).
Awanui 29 (Hone Tamiti 2, Brodie Maron, Whiria Meltz tries; Rawiri Paparoa pen, 3 cons), Moerewa 19
Eastern 17 (Darrell Albert, Tyler Hamilton, Johnward tries; Jorden Karena con), Otamatea 5 (Ethan Dowson try)
WBHS 17, Kamo 5 (Joel Davies try)
Southern 14, Marist-Old Boys 10 (Parish Openshaw, Hone Larson tries)
Southern Districts
Division Two
Eastern Suburbs bt Waimarie by default; Mangakahia 15, Onerahi 12; Pipiwai 46, Whangaruru 5; City 25, Tikipunga 19.
DIVISION THREE
Southern 26, Kaihu Valley 3; Tomarata 77, Dargaville Old Boys 12.
Bay of Islands
Okaihau-Kaikohe 13, Kerikeri 11; South Hokianga 25, Otiria 17; Moerewa bt Kaeo by default; Ohaeawai bt United Kawakawa by default.
Mangonui
Te rarawa 17, Awanui 5; Eastern United 9, Motokohu 8; Waipapakauri 19, Te Aupouri 10.