League: Knights keen to carve up Stags again

This weekend's match between Hikurangi and Otangarei may create some separation between the second-ranked teams. Photo / Tania Newman

The Otangarei Knights will look to achieve a rare feat tomorrow when they face the Hikurangi Stags - beating them twice in one season.

Nearly two months ago to the day, Otangarei produced their biggest win in the Rugby League Northland MultiKai Cooker Premiership in years, beating the reigning champion Hikurangi side 40-26.

The win was massive, with coach Iwi Hauraki saying no one knew when Otangarei had last beaten Hikurangi.

"We're really starting to see some returns, everything is just clicking for us at the moment," Hauraki said of the win on May 3. "Structure is the key, if everyone knows their role you know where they will be on the field."

Since that magical win, Otangarei have gone from strength to strength, virtually securing a play-off spot with three games remaining.

Currently Otangarei, Hikurangi, and Portland are all locked on 18 points in second-equal on the table, with Takahiwai well clear on 23 points and likely to claim the minor premiership.

This weekend's match between Hikurangi and Otangarei may create some separation between the second-ranked teams, with the first and second teams having the first week of play-off football off.

Also pricking the interest this weekend in the premiership will be Portland's match against Hokianga.

With Portland one of the three tied for second, Hokianga sit one point back in fifth and are coming off a 28-22 win last weekend over Hikurangi.

On the other hand, Portland showed last week they were in an attacking mindset as they piled on the points against Kerikeri, winning 50-34.

Meanwhile Muriwhenua host Kerikeri in what will be a battle at the bottom end of the table.

Sitting last on three points are Kerikeri, coming from a win and a draw, in what was an abandoned game due to injury, while Muriwhenua are just one win better than them.

Rounding out the weekend's premiership matches, Hora Hora host Northern Wairoa and Moerewa take on Takahiwai in Moerewa.

While Takahiwai look to have the minor premiership in the bag after their 82-6 demolition of Muriwhenua last weekend, their last three games are against Moerewa, Kerikeri and Hora Hora, making their biggest concern complacency leading into the playoffs.