Moerewa Tigers won last season's Northland Rugby League premiership crown over Takahiwai Warriors. Both teams are in the semifinals again tomorrow and could yet meet again in this year's final.
Moerewa Tigers won last season's Northland Rugby League premiership crown over Takahiwai Warriors. Both teams are in the semifinals again tomorrow and could yet meet again in this year's final.
Last year's Northland Rugby League premiership final was an epic, with Moerewa Tigers storming to an impressive 44-30 win over 2016 premiers Takahiwai Warriors.
And a repeat of that final is still on the cards, with both teams playing in opposite Northland Rugby League premiership semifinals tomorrow.
After a toughseason only three points separated the top three in the competition, with Takahiwai finishing top on 25 points, Otangarei Knights second on 24 Moerewa third on 23 and Portland Panthers completing the top four with 12 points.
Under the RNL playoff format 1st plays 2nd and 3rd plays 4th.
Tomorrow's semis are being played at Trigg Stadium, at Kensington Park, Whangārei, as Okara Park is being used for the Bayleys Northland Premier Rugby final.
In the first semi tomorrow, from 1pm Moerewa take on Portland, followed by Takahiwai v Otangarei at 2.30pm.
The winner of the Takahiwai v Otangarei match will go straight into the grand final, while the loser will then take on the winner of the Moerewa v Portland game in the major semifinal - also to be played at Trigg Stadium - next Saturday, July 28.
The winner of that match will then go into the grand final, to be played at Okara Park on August 4.
TEAMS: Moerewa v Portland: Moerewa: 1. Jahdon Palmer 2. Aaryn Waikaire 3. Danyon Hati 4. Herewini McGregor 5. Saia Lopeti 6. Henry Wiki 7. Wilson Hona 8. Mark Aperahama 9. Jarron Hona 21. Teejay Williams 11. Marshall Ruka 19. Issac Harris 13. Peter Prime Reserves; 20. DJ Palmer, 15. Anania Anderson, 26. Blair Robert Sionetali, 18, Jud Davis Portland: 1. Stilie Antonio 2. Pheonix Renata 3. Levi McQueen 4. James Kay 5. Matthew Clifford 6. Wayne Iripa 7. Kass Wall 8. Robert Nathan 9. Thomas Wihongi 10. Fabian Flavell 11. Sam Bray 12. Jermaine Rewha13. Michael Salese. Reserves; 14. Elsion Wihongi, 15. Finlay Penitoa, 16. John Wright, 17. Joshua Poasa.
Takahiwai v Otangarei: Takahiwai: 1. Te Hau Lemon 2. Levita Levita 3. Taine-Lee Shelford 4. Ross McFarlane 5. Nicolas Poutama 6. Kyle Hool 7. Jesse Epiha 9. Witaiawa Thompson 10. Mike Hauraki 11. Charlie Tarau 12. Deane Tuhoro 13. Joel Freeman Reserves; 14. Nicholas Schuster, 15. Whiwhia Tarau, 16. Marley Mackay, 17. Leroy Nicholson. Otangarei: 1. Vincent Paul 2. Bryce Rauahi 3. Dominique Ormsby 4. Jordan Katene 5. Shaquille Ormbsy 6. Sepeti Tatau 7. Vern Wilson 8. Dean Schreurs 9. Samuel Henry 10. Andrew Davison 11. Cody Takiari 12. Lance Edmonds 13. John Hetaraka reserves; 14. Dameon Herbert, 15. Daley Johnson, 16. Shane Herbert, 17. Sonny Moke.
