Rugby: Kamo, Old Boys Marist maintain unbeaten start

Kamo second five Kurt Benney carries the ball into contact in his side's 22-3 win over Hora Hora. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Kamo and Old Boys Marist continued to set the tone during week two of Bayleys Northland Club Rugby.

Both sides had strong wins in the Premier division as they start to separate themselves from the field.

Kamo took on Hora Hora away from home and came out 22-3 victors.

Hora Hora made Kamo toil in front of a strong crowd but the likes of second five Kurt Benney and flanker Thomas Barlow put in big efforts for the visitors.

Captain and halfback Mac Sykes, No 8 Ben Berridge and hooker Jackson Brott all crossed for Kamo as they continue to show they'll be tough to beat in 2018.

Hora Hora's Dominic Ormsby gets his pass away. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Meanwhile OBM overcame a tough start to beat Hikurangi 43-12.

Hikurangi looked strong early and put pressure on the defending champions, however their class shone through as they cantered home relatively untroubled.

Waipu, Mid Northern and Otamatea each picked up their first win of the 2018 season, leaving Western Sharks and Hikurangi as the only sides who haven't tasted victory.

Waipu produced sublime rugby either side of halftime to clinch a tough 26-15 win over Kerikeri.

Kerikeri were looking to pick up a second win after promotion to the top flight and led late into the first half.

However a pair of tries from Waipu before the break changed the momentum before another surge took them out to a 25-3 lead.

Kerikeri fought back with a pair of tries but last year's semifinalists held on to open their account.

Mid Northern maintained their attacking prowess from last week's thriller against OBM to trounce Western Sharks 81-10.

Mid Northern raced out early as they piled on the points in the first spell, taking a 45-5 lead into the sheds.

Western Sharks put in a spirited effort in the second half but Mid Northern maintained attacking pressure to add another 36 points to comfortably take the win.

Otamatea also grabbed an important win in a tight tussle with Wellsford, coming out 18-10 winners.

Meanwhile in Premier Reserve action Kerikeri, Kamo and OBM remained unbeaten.

Kerikeri beat Waipu 45-7 in a match where the majority of the scoring was done in the second half. Kerikeri led 17-7 at the break.

Meanwhile, defending champions Kamo piled on a half-century of points again as they beat Hora Hora 50-21 in a high scoring affair.

OBM were pushed by a determined Hikurangi outfit but ended up 19-5 winners.

Western Sharks grabbed their first win of the season with a tense 22-19 win over Mid Northern.

The forward pack's toughness set up the victory for Western Sharks.

Otamatea bounced back from a rough opening week to grab a 26-13 win over Wellsford to round out the competition's fixtures.

Bayleys Northland Club Rugby results

Premier:
Waipu 26 Kerikeri 13, OBM 43 Hikurangi 12, Kamo 22 Hora Hora 3, Mid Northern 81 Western Sharks 10, Otamatea 18 Wellsford 10.

Premier Reserve:
Kerikeri 45 Waipu 7, OBM 19 Hikurangi 5, Kamo 50 Hora Hora 21, Western Sharks 22 Mid Northern 19, Otamatea 26 Wellsford 13.

North Zone:
Awanui 64 Te Rarawa 9, Kaitaia 45 Kaeo 0, Moerewa/United Kawakawa 34 Eastern 18, Kaikohe 31 Panguru 3, Ohaeawai/Okaihau 25 Otiria 17.

South Zone:
Pipiwai 12 Dargaville 0, Tomarata 10 Mid Western 0, Southern 23 Whangaruru 12, Kaihu 25 Mangakahia 21.