RUGBY: Nail-biting win primes Kaeo before big day

The Kaeo rugby club are still three weeks away from reopening their refurbished clubrooms - badly damaged in the March floods - but they showed their spirit is nevertheless undimmed with a thrilling 34-20 away win over Waipapakauri.
It was Kaeo's first win in three North Zone games, with club secretary Adriaan Bosch admitting he saw some heart-stopping moments in the final quarter.
"We got ahead early and just managed too stay in front, but it was very tight in the last quarter when they came back at us," Bosch said.
Waipapakauri's Laurie Austen declared it an even contest: "They were going all right in the second half until we hit back. The whole thing was a good battle."
Bosch said Kaeo should do well at home this week if they could hold out the marauding Kaitaia Pirates who travel down the road in search of a game.
For two weeks in a row, teams (namely, Okaihau/Kaikohe and Kerikeri) scheduled to play the Kaitaia Pirates have defaulted.
"I guess that means they'll be coming down breathing steam and looking to take out their two weeks of frustration on us and that will make them a handful," Bosch said.
Meanwhile, he said, the clubrooms would be completed in time for a gala day on June 30 when five junior and teenage teams play at home, and the midgets play the curtainraiser for the seniors' game that afternoon.
"The clubrooms were insured and all up it will cost more than $150,000 once all the work is done, but we're really happy we're going to have virtually new clubrooms."
In the feature match last weekend, Te Rarawa set a new club record of 10 straight victories when they edged out visitors United Kawakawa 11-6 after the sides were locked 3-3 at halftime.
Victory also secured Te Rarawa the North Zone challenge trophy. However, the match had to be called off early due to unnecessary aggression toward the end.
Te Rarawa travel to play South Hokianga who will have their work out after going down to Motukohu 12-6 in another tight contest.
Awanui, who have displaced Te Rarawa at the top of the table by one point, romped to a 75-5 victory at home over young and inexperienced Otiria.
Awanui coach Wihi Stevenson said Otiria deserved credit for continuing to compete and were eventually rewarded with a second-half try.
However, they won't find it such easy going on Saturday when they play United Kawakawa at the Bay of Islands College grounds.
Te Aupouri travelled away for a comfortable 27-13 win over Okaihau/Kaikohe but are expected to find it tougher going when they play Kerikeri on Saturday at Ludbrook Park.
And in the other match, third-placed Ohaewai were too good, beating Eastern 25-7 and, in the process, setting them up for this weekend's match away to Motukohu at Kohukohu.
Other matches will see Eastern hosting Okaihau/Kaikohe at Taipa and Waipapakauri at home to Otiria.