RUGBY - Hora Hora elated at trifecta

Hora Hora triumphed in club rugby finals on Saturday, with their premier team winning the Joe Morgan Memorial Trophy by defeating Mid Northern 18-14 and their reserves beating Marist 15-13.
Hora Hora president Jonny Fromont had a wide grin after the games at Okara Park in Whangarei, saying an earlier 24-8 finals victory for the Hora Hora women's team against Moerewa had given the club a memorable winning trifecta.
But while there was jubilation in the Hora Hora changing room after the premier game, the mood was subdued around the Mid Northern players, who felt they had not only failed to retain the trophy but also fallen short in a performance they had hoped would be a fitting tribute to their club's All Black and Northland rugby legend Ken Going, who died on Wednesday.
Heavy rain fell with the final whistle and Mid Northern captain and Ken's nephew, Rata Going, was too choked to speak at the after-match ceremony. Flanker Nathan Smith stepped in do the honours, explaining it had been an emotional day for the team, who had attended Ken's funeral before the game and performed a haka for the Going family.
Smith said Hora Hora had deserved to win, being "hungrier" than his team and hitting the rucks first. However, he also told the Mid Northern players they had "done themselves proud" and he urged them to keep their heads up, despite the loss.
Hora Hora captain Warren Dunn started his speech by paying his team and club's respects to Ken Going. Mid Northern had been the team to beat all season, he said, congratulating his players for ``fronting up' in the final.
He then hoisted the prized trophy to delighted cheers from Hora Hora supporters among the crowd, which two-thirds filled the covered seats in the stand and clustered in the centre of the terraces.
There was a minute's silence for Ken Going before the kickoff and Mid Northern took a 3-0 lead after a couple of minutes with a penalty kicked by lock Buster Tahere.
Hora Hora's Leon Baigent equalised with a penalty a minute later but when play resumed, his team failed to secure the kick-off ball, and Mid Northern spun it across the field and wing Jershon Witehira scored in the corner. Tahere missed the conversion: 8-3.
Hora Hora came back strongly, with Baigent kicking another penalty and their forwards driving the ball up to the Mid Northern line. Sustained pressure was rewarded with an unconverted try to No8 Rukuwai Waata, and Hora Hora took an 11-8 lead.
Mid Northern then showed dominance in the set scrum and Tahere kicked a penalty, which levelled the score at the break.
After half-time the Mid Northern scrum had their rivals buckling but somehow Hora Hora won ball and, when they didn't, their defence held against a back line that included Ken Going's talented nephews Vaughan Going at first-five and Brad Miller at second-five, and son Clint Going at fullback.
Mid Northern took a 14-11 lead with another Tahere penalty and seemed to have the best of the battle until substitutes lock Reece Guy and hooker-coach Doug Te Puni gave the Hora Hora pack fresh legs and weight with 15 minutes to go.
A forward drive took Hora Hora upfield for Jeremy Stanley to score between the posts. Baigent converted to make it 18-14 and, despite valiant Mid Northern efforts, Hora Hora held on until referee Kyal Collins blew full-time.
* RESERVES FINAL
Hora Hora turn game of two halves into a 15-13 victory
by Mike Barrington
Hora Hora came back to beat Marist 15-13 in the club rugby premier reserves final on Saturday after trailing 13-0 at half-time at Okara Park in Whangarei.
Marist first-five Sam Miller scored a try, converted it and kicked two penalties to give his team a handy lead at the break but they couldn't hold Hora Hora out when play resumed.
After the turnaround, Hora Hora lock Jason Tuhoe and prop Damian Gibbs scored tries and a conversion and penalty from fullback Bert Horner gave them the lead.
Marist tried hard in the last 15 minutes but the Hora Hora forwards showed dominance, their defence held and, as captain-coach lock Greg Jeeves said: "We gutsed it out in this game of two halves."
Marenus Stowes had an outstanding game as flanker for Hora Hora. Gibbs and centre Pene Henare also played well.
Marist coach Kohai Kingi said the Hora Hora forwards had been very strong throughout the match. His team had not stuck to their game plan at the start of the second half and by the time they were back on track it was too late.
Kingi said the Marist captain, flanker Alan Tolich, had led well and his Marist B team, traditionally non-competitive, had had a "fairytale" season.
"Getting to the final was far beyond anything we expected this year," he said.