RUGBY - Regional revival spurs on support

The Northland rugby team continued its pre-season march and planted another seed of belief in the minds of their fans, dispatching Manawatu 19-8.
But in a bizarre turn of events, it was the lead up to the game that could result in more bums in home stadium seats if the trend of taking Northland rugby back to the regions continues, as well as a rare breed spotted that was thought extinct - the grassroots Northland supporter.
An 11th-hour decision to shift the venue from a bogged Arnold Rae Park in Kaitaia meant the Eastern Rugby Club in Taipa, with its sand-based field, suddenly had the biggest sporting event in its history on its hands.
With only 24 hours until the Northland team was due to kit up in the sheds, all in the Mangonui sub-union began to scramble. The jungle drums began to beat.
When Northland ran on to the park in front of over 1500 of the supposed rare breed, the many Eastern volunteers and organisers had already endured a sleepless night.
And there was no dropping of the ball, according to the Northland Rugby Union's chairman, Wayne Peters.
"What could have been a bit of a disaster has turned out to be a great day for players, a great day for rugby and a great day for grassroots, which is basically the guts of our game," Peters said.
Northland flanker John Cocker got the party started with a try in the opening minutes. First-five David Holwell cut through on one of his many venturing runs but was taken high. From the penalty and lineout, the Northland forward pack drove on and Cocker scored among the mass of tangled bodies.
But despite the first try going in their favour, Northland coach Mark Anscombe produced anything but a favourable response to his side's first half performance. Anscombe was disappointed that his players hadn't done "what we had talked about doing. They didn't front up in the first 40."
Behind 8-5 at the break thanks to a Josh Bradnock try against the run of play for Manawatu and a Matthew James penalty, Anscombe served up a medley of "poor option taking" and the "need to be patient at this level of rugby: to his players.
Manawatu's strong first half defence wasn't as effective in the second, Northland taking the advice on board.
Phases were strung together and improved structure led to opportunities. Mike Davis and Blair Urlich added to the try tally, Davis's effort a rip snorter solo run from 60m, kicking ahead on the opposition's 10m line and burning off the chasers to fall on the ball.
With the deadline fast approaching for Northland to have their 26-man squad into the NZRFU, backs coach Bruce Robertson was unwilling to single out players for praise.
Nevertheless, the Davis try and some fleet footed work of centre Aiden Downes must have warmed the cockles ahead of the opening Air New Zealand Cup match against Waikato on July 1.
Praise for "old heads" Justin Collins and David Holwell came from management by the bucket load.
"They put in a huge contribution.
"They set the standard and when you've got a lot of new guys [in the squad] they create good habits," Anscombe said.
Whatever the make-up of today's team list sent to the NZRFU, 1500 or so fans from the Northland rugby's extremities were added to the Tanaiwha's fan base - if they weren't there already.