League: Tough task to crack team

Petera Taingahue, of Tikipunga High School, gets a kick away before Whangarei Boys' High School's Tahi Subritzky can charge it down during their round-three clash. Photo / John Stone

Rugby league hopefuls aiming to make the 2015 NorthTec Adam Blair XIII have their work cut out this season with tight competition evident across both pools of the competition.

Players will trial at Bay of Islands College this Sunday in a bid to make the 20-man squad which will play the Warriors Development team at Lindvart Park on March 28.

Meanwhile, the NorthTec Adam Blair Rugby League Competition reaches its second to last round of pool play this week with Kaitaia College and Whangarei Boy's High School (WBHS) leading their respective pools.

Both sides are also the only unbeaten teams in the overall competition.

WBHS were on fire last week as they demolished a valiant Tikipunga team.

In 2014 the Tikipunga High School side were very competitive, winning the Northern Swords Shield, however a number of their players left school at the end of 2014 so the team are rebuilding.

Last week Kaitaia College defeated the then unbeaten Kura Hokianga.

Kaitaia are coached by long-time Northland League and Northern Swords coach Jim Larkin, who is looking to maintain a well-drilled, large, mobile team.

While first place looks to be clearcut in the North and South pools, the second position is still up for grabs in each pool.

In the North Pool, Okaihau, Northland College, Kura Hokianga and Whangaroa are all in a position to seal second place.

Northland College will have gained momentum with their defeat of Whangaroa last week, while Okaihau College have had back-to-back wins after their recent win over Brothers.

Round four sees some juicy fixtures, with Okaihau hosting Northland and Whangaroa hosting Kura Hokianga.

In the South Pool, Kamo High School are favourites to take second place after defeating Bay of Islands last week.

In other South Pool match-ups this week, Dargaville take on WBHS and Bay of Islands College play Tikipunga. Kamo have the bye this week.

Trials for this year's NorthTec Adam Blair XIII will kick off on March 15, at 11am.

The full trials squad will be named this week.

-Round 4, draw:

Today: Whangaroa College v Kura Hokianga (Whangaroa, 4.30pm); Whangarei Boys' High School v Dargaville High School (WBHS, 4.30pm); Bay Of Islands College v Tikipunga High School (BOI College, 4.30pm).

Tomorrow: Okaihau College v Northland College (Okaihau, 4.30pm)

Bye: Kamo High School.