RUGBY: Reputation blown away in weekend of stormy upsets

A cold blast might have kept the supporters away but the blow-torch pressure of the Joe Morgan Memorial competition burned a few reputations on Saturday.
With just two more rounds before the semifinals, six teams are still battling for a top-four berth after an intriguing weekend that saw championship leaders Mid Northern upended by Marist, Wellsford ambushed by Kamo, and Hora Hora suddenly re-assert themselves by hammering Hikurangi.
Those six teams are now divided by just six points and are now galloping into unknown territory with the untimely withdrawal of Northland representative squad members set to make a dramatic impact.
But the final shakedown is set to be an immense battle with Hikurangi and Kamo now fighting for survival, due to the sudden revival of Hora Hora and the unexpected victory from Marist in the mud at Hukerenui.
Marist won by only one point, 7-6, and managed to hold on to victory in a desperate game only by banking on their defensive attributes. But it was a victory that has potentially saved their season from sinking without trace.
They still have some work to do though, because their rejuvenation has been aided in no small way by the injection of Northland squad members Tony Coughlan and Dan Goodwin and the tactical input of halfback Kaino Kaino.
All three will now pull out of all club rugby, along with strike winger Fetu Vainikolo, leaving Marist short on firepower heading into the business end of the championship.
Goodwin will be sorely missed, as his formidable frame did some damage on Saturday and forced Mid Northern to fight for every metre of turf.
Mid Northern did have chances to snatch another win but lost possession at vital moments.
Young loose forward Roy Griffin and lock Steve Baker were the main men in the Kamo pack as they swept past Wellsford in another upset at Wellsford. Kamo won 26-11 and had the edge throughout in what was their most compelling performance of the season.
In the wet the Kamo forwards were relentless while the form of first five eighths Matt Buckley helped keep the visitors on the front foot for most of the game. Jason Hammond and Freddie van Loggerenburg were others to stand out in the Kamo pack.
But Kamo will need to keep winning to ensure their campaign remains afloat, a task all the more challenging as they lose three players to Northland duty, Baker, Griffin and fullback Mike Davis.
Logan Wendt and Jason Parangi were the stars as Hora Hora put 22 unanswered points past Hikurangi, at Hikurangi. Still smarting from a somewhat controversial 16-23 loss to Wellsford on Wednesday night, Hora Hora were in the mood for a brutal exchange of forward power in the mud, and came out convincing victors in the battle of brawn.
While the top six teams were going head-to-head, the battle of the championship minnows also had some drama on Saturday. Old Boys ripped into the action against Mid Western and were in the hunt throughout before ceding a second half try and losing 7-15. Waipu finally found their form when they whipped a flagging Sharks unit 28-0.