Strong Takahue on a winning streak

MARKED MAN: Takahue's Shoshonee Pullan Whakarau takes the ball up for Takahue in the North Zone IMB U14 clash at Arnold Rae Park on Saturday.

North Zone IMB

Kaitaia 15 Takahue 36: Takahue winning their second match on the trot in round 3 of the North Zone IMB under 14 competition at Arnold Rae Park on Saturday.

In fine late autumn conditions, Takahue, with good numbers on the bench raced out to score two quick tries off the bat suggesting a rout was on the cards.

Kaitaia came back with a sustained spell of pressure which resulted in a good try being scored but Takahue retained a solid lead throughout the match, eventually winning convincingly.

Takahue manager Sonya Brownley noted this was the second match the side had won this year following the 72-0 whitewash of Moerewa the previous week and a bye in the opening round.

She said the majority of players in the side had come through the ranks, but mostly from the under-13 JMB World Cup championship winning side last season, and were hoping to defend the 2014 under-14 title also won by Takahue last year. Takahue standouts include prop TJ Waitai, and Te Paea Cook-Savage.

Kaitaia coach Leo Lloyd wasn't able to report the same strength of numbers as his Takahue counterpart, but from Saturday's performance, felt the team was starting to gell. He hoped improved performances would attract others waiting in the wings who were so far reluctant to commit. Standouts on Saturday included tighthead Regan Donaldson, and halfback Kiarn Reinhana.

Lloyd had admitted he had come on board after hearing at the end of the last season that the side needed a coach for the 2015 campaign.

"Give the kids something to do, keep them off the streets," he said.