League: Tauranga Moana Pa Wars on

Huimai's Nathaniel Walker puts on a fend at the 2011 edition of the Tauranga Moana Pa Wars Rugby League tournament at Ariki Park, Maungatapu. The tournament favour free flow playing. Photo / File

The local rugby league season is winding down with fixtures expected to be among the most entertaining seen all season.

Defending Lance Nicholas Trophy winners Te Puke will host the annual Tauranga Moana Pa Wars tournament at Rangiuru's Centennial Park on Saturday, with teams from Papamoa, Judea, Matakana Island and other marae from around Tauranga challenging for the right to host next year's edition.

The football is expected to be unstructured and more free flowing than that seen during the majority of the club season, resulting in a fan-friendly brand of running rugby league.

Junior rugby league is also still in full flow, with a tournament formerly held in Matamata to take over Arataki Park over the next two days.

The under-13 and under-14 tournament was shifted to Tauranga by organiser Baz Paama.

The junior representative programmes are proving successful, with Wai-Coa-Bay under-15 and under-17 sides both finishing fifth in the national championships in Rotorua last week.

The Akarana Falcons of Auckland proved too strong for Counties Manukau in both divisions, with the local side's highlight being the selection of under-15 player Wiremu Ryan in the national tournament team.

The honour opens the door for Ryan to win selection in next year's under-16 Kiwi squad.

The Coastline under-13 side finished third at the national tournament in Palmerston North, with Bay of Plenty winning the competition over Wellington.