CLOSE CALL: Northland's Jevon Halvorson.PHOTO/TANIA WHYTE
CLOSE CALL: Northland's Jevon Halvorson.PHOTO/TANIA WHYTE
Northland's Under-19 side have been narrowly pipped at the post, going down 23-22 to Southland in their opening match of the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19's tournament in Taupo yesterday.
Coming close against the defending championship division winners, Northland coach Mark Wells said the top two inches of Southland'sperformance proved the difference.
"We started well and blew them away at the start but just a couple of errors throughout the game sort of kept them in striking distance," Wells said.
"The boys were absolutely gutted. The level down here is really a massive step up, our boys are stepping up each week but the top two inches let us down."
The Northland Under-19s now play the Heartland XV on Wednesday, before playing their final fixture this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Northland Development team lost 68-27 to Counties Manukau in Auckland on Saturday.
Managing to secure Taniwha debutant Tyler Landsdowne, who also played for Northland against Bay of Plenty on Friday night, the Northland Development side struggled to answer back to Counties' wrath.
