Rugby: Massive weekend of sport

Northlanders have no excuses for sitting on the couch this weekend as there is an abundance of sport taking place around the region.

Right across the sports there are must-win matches with the Taniwha Shield kids kicking off the weekend's play-off battles at Kensington Park.

After having played round robin matches throughout the week, either the Bears, Grizzlies, Mangonui, or Northern Wairoa (depending of the results from today's semi-finals) will fight it out for the Taniwha Shield at noon. Other placing matches will take place from 10am tomorrow on either K1 or K11.

Next up sees rugby league semifinal qualifiers hit Kaikohe as last year's champions the Hikurangi Stags take on the Northern Wairoa Bulls at Lindvart Park, starting at 1pm.

A month ago the Bulls defeated the Stags in a thrilling 24-18 victory to gain top place in the Premiership. Since then, the Bulls have won only one game finishing the season in fifth place. The Stags will want to continue the Bulls run of poor form and set up a replay of the 2012 Grand Final in next week's semi-final at Toll Stadium against the Moerewa Tigers.

Then, at 2pm, it is back to rugby as finalists will be decided for the Bayleys Southern Districts premiers with Mid Western getting a second crack at Mid Northern in Hukerenui after going down 38-24 to them last weekend.

Also in Hukerenui is the premier reserve semi-final between Mid Northern and Old Boys Marist, which kicks off at 12.15pm, with these two sides the only two having their premier and premier reserve sides in the play-off. In the other premier semifinal, the in-form Hora Hora host Old Boys Marist at 2.30pm in what will surely be a heated encounter.

Also kicking off at 2pm is one of less publicised, but hugely important, promotion-relegation match which will see Waipu host division two winners Whangaruru. The match-up will be a reply of last year's division two final which saw Waipu come away victors by 26-12.

Set down for 2.30pm are Northland club football teams who will continue their quest to be the best in the Stafford Choat Cup. The top matches look to be Tikipunga against Kerikeri's Reserve side, at Tikipunga, while Central Brown will be hosted by Kerikeri's top team. Also of interest will be the Kamo and FC Whangarei match up in Kamo.

At 3pm, back at Kaikohe's Lindvart Park, the second of league's semifinal qualifiers sees the Hokianga Pioneers up against the City Knights. Capping off a massive weekend will be the Mason Cup match between Whangarei Boys' High School and Kamo High School, which will be broadcast live on Sky Television from 2.45pm. This match will be played at Boys' High with a large crowd expected.

The weekend's key match ups

Schoolboy rugby, broadcast live on Sky TV:

• 
  Whangarei Boys' High School vs Kamo High School, 2.45pm at Boys' High

Rugby Premiers:

• 
  Mid Northern vs Mid Western, 2pm kick off at Hukerenui

• 
  Hora Hora vs Old Boys Marist, 2.30pm kick off at Hora Hora

Rugby Premier Reserves:

• 
  Mid Northern vs Old Boys Marist, 12.15pm kick off at Hukerenui

• 
  Kamo vs Western Sharks, 12.30pm kick off at Kamo

Promotion/relegation:

• 
  Waipu vs Whangaruru, 2pm kick off at Waipu

Rugby League semifinal qualifiers in Kaikohe:

• 
  Hikurangi vs Northern Wairoa, kick off at 1pm at Lindvart Park

• 
  Hokianga Pioneers vs City Knights, kick off at 3pm at Lindvart ParkGrizzlies second-five River Reihana, 12