RUGBY - Star puts a loosey's noose on comp rivals

Jake Paringatai has only been in town for two weeks, and if the scuttlebutt proves correct may not be here for much longer, but the irascible loose forward is already having a massive impact on the Joe Morgan Memorial premier club rugby competition.
Paringatai was right in the thick of the action in a thumping game between his new club Hora Hora and Wellsford at Wellsford on Saturday, claiming he scored a match-winning try in the last act of the game.
But despite his pleading, the referee ruled differently and ended the match, with Wellsford claiming a nail-biting 29-27 victory.
It was a thunderous performance from Hora Hora, whose sudden awakening has added some much needed sting to the championship that, for the first month, looked like a two-horse race.
Now, instead of defending champions Mid Northern and a Marist team injected with Tongan sevens representatives being the two obvious contenders, several other clubs are staking their claims.
Even promoted team Mid Western are shaping up as potential spoilers thanks to the arrival of two sizeable imported prop forwards from South America, while the Dargaville-based Western Sharks are also making waves.
It all augurs well for the title chase, as there are still a handful of Northland contracted representative players to filter back into the competition when various off-season overseas contracts expire.
Players like flanker Joel McKenty (Hikurangi), lock Dan Goodwin and prop Tony Coughlan (both Marist), and try-scoring star Fetu Vainkolo (Wellsford) are about to enter the fray.
In the meantime, Marist are poised at the top of the table, albeit a little unconvincingly, after they beat Mid Western 22-0 on Saturday thanks mainly to some eye-catching strikepower out wide.
Halfback Kaino Kaino is a pivotal player for Marist and was so again on Saturday, but the Mid Western forwards were aggressive enough to cause concern, while winger Reon Wynyard also did well.
Kamo hammered Waipu 36-0, with fullback Mike Davis and converted centre Jared McKenzie the stars. Davis scored two long range tries, but McKenzie shone in the No.13 jersey. He is usually a loose forward.
Hikurangi took some time to fire, but gave Old Boys a 61-5 thumping at Okara Park, with Damian Fakafanua and Jared Payne to the fore.
Hikurangi were only ahead 15-0 at halftime though and only got the edge when they unleashed players from the bench.
Mid Northern were a bit unconvincing as they slipped past the Sharks 22-10, with David Holwell and Gray Roberts featuring alongside new loose forward Frank Roberts.
But it was the game at Wellsford that set the weekend alight.
Rene Ranger was at his lethal best, scoring two counter-attacking tries in the first half to help Wellsford take a narrow halftime lead. But when the game got serious in the second spell, it was Paringatai who stood out.
Hora Hora hit the front 27-24 in the final moments of the game, but then conceded a try and the lead when Wellsford hit back.
The game was on a knife-edge as Hora Hora surged back on to the attack and camped near the Wellsford tryline.
Paringatai was driven toward the line in a forward melee between the uprights, but the referee called time after the maul collapsed - with rabid Hora Hora supporters claiming a try had been scored.
RESULTS: JOE MORGAN MEMORIAL
Premier Kamo 36 (Jared Mckenzie, Fred Van Loggerenburg, Roy griffin, Mike davis 2, Hunia Kingi tries; Matt Buckley 3 cons), Waipu 0. H/T: 12-0 Kamo.
Prem reserves: 24-8 Waipu.
Marist 22 (Kameli Delana, Tom Vainikolo 2 tries; Luke Muggeridge pens, 2 cons), Mid Western 0. H/T: 17-0 Marist.
Prem reserves: 24-5 Marist.
Hikurangi 61 (Aaron Wright 2, Henry Foy 2, Maurice Cooper 2, Jared Payne 2, Damian Fakafanua, Mark Southee tries; Josh Edmonds pen, 4 cons), Old Boys 5 (Rick Woodham try). H/T: 15-0 Hikurangi.
Prem reserves: 24-12 Hikurangi.
Mid Northern 22 (Gray Roberts, Asher Whaikawa, Frank Roberts tries; David Holwell pen, 2 cons), W Sharks 10 (Tony Stokes try; Jamie Kay pen, con). H/T: 7-0 Mid Northern.
Prem reserves: 34-25 Mid Northern.
Wellsford 29 (Roger Neil, Rene Ranger 2, Leo Taliu, Aiden Dewes tries; Jay MoiMoi 2 cons),Hora Hora 27 (Aaron Baigent, Leon Baigent, Ray Murray, Jason Parangi, Logan Wendt tries; Joe TePuni con). H/T: 24-22 Wellford.
Prem reserves: 24-20 Wellsford.
POINTS Premier:
Marist 23; Mid Northern 20; Wellsford 20; Hora Hora 19; Kamo 17; Hikurangi 16; Western Sharks 6; Waipu 4; Mid Western 1; Whg Old Boys 0.
Premier Reserves:
Marist 23; Mid Northern 21; Wellsford 20; Kamo 16; Hora Hora 15; Western Sharks 12; Waipu 8; Hikurangi 8; Whg Old Boys 0; Mid Western 0.
NORTHLAND UNDER-18
Kamo 31 (Adam Shepherd, Joe Wech, Ben Berridge, Mike Clayter, Krisna nair tries; Shpeherd 2, James McNab cons), Marist-Old Boys 12 (Hare Shortland, Dave Bird tries; Malakai Miller con).
Otamatea 30 (Sam Smith 2, Aaron Jacques, Tyrell Jenyns, Matt McCabe, Shaun Vaughn tries), Awanui 5 (Hone Tamiti try).
Eastern 8 (Jordan Krena try; karena pen), Southern 0.
Moerewa 17, Kamo High School 0
POINTS:
MOREWA 17; AWANUI 15; OTAMATEA 14; EASTERN 13; KERIKERI 9; KAMO 9; KAMO HIGH 7; WBHS 6; SOUTHERN 0; MARIST 0-OLD BOYS 0.
Southern Districts Division Two
City 19, Pipiwai 7; Otamatea 65, Whangaruru 21; Mangakahia 34, Eastern Suburbs 15; Tikipunga 87, Waimarie 0.
Division Three
Tomarata 17, Kaihu Valley 8; Ruawai 71, Darg Old Boys 22.
BAY OF ISLANDS
Moerewa 6, United Kawakawa 5; Kaeo 8, Sth Hokianga 5; Kerikeri 43, Otiria 3; Ohaeawai 13, Okaihau-Kaikohe 0.
Mangonui
Te Rarawa 51, Kaitaia Pirates 13; Awanui 13, Eastern United 10; Motokohu 18, Waipapakauri 13.