Te Rarawa's 11-match winning streak this season came to a grinding halt at Ludbrook Park on Saturday when the defending North Zone club rugby champions Ohaeawai, playing at home, tipped them over 23-12 in a thrilling round five contest.
The victory not only propelled Ohaeawai (20 points) to the top of
the table, one ahead of Awanui and the Kaitaia/Pirates (19) - United Kawakawa and Te Rarawa share joint fourth place (17) - but also saw them snatch the North Zone Challenge Trophy off the visitors.
Despite conceding dominance in the forwards, Ohaeawai's backs were far too slick on the counter-attack and they lead at the break 17-7.
Urged on by their spectators in the second spell, they hung on for a well-earned victory.
"That's the way the game goes, we came here knowing this was going to be a very tough game and it proved that way," Te Rarawa coach Andrew Morrogh said.
"Every record is there to be broken, we've had a great trot so far, but now we've got to regroup and get our focus right to make the semifinals.
"When you see the log-jam at the top of the table it just goes to show how tough this competition is and how desperate all the teams are to make the semifinals."
Ohaeawai coach Pappy Maihi was pleased with his side's win but says his team would much prefer to be playing at home than away.
"I don't know what it is with these guys, they like playing at home, but when it comes to travelling to some of the away games, the three-hour trip way up to the Far North, just gets too much for them," he said.
"We've got a tough game coming up on Saturday away against Awanui. I'm hoping I can field as much of the same side as we did against Te Rarawa.
"If all the guys turn up I think we've got a great chance of getting a win up there."
Awanui, who similarly suffer from the travelling blues, had a great turn out at home on the weekend and dished out a 67-3 hiding to hapless South Hokianga, who on Saturday have a chance to turn their fortunes around against Waipapakauri.
That game should be an evenly fought contest for both sides after Waipapakauri went down at home to United Kawakawa 17-8.
The heavily Tongan-influenced Kawakawa side will feature in the match of the round when they host Kaitaia/Pirates at Bay of Islands College.
The Kaitaia/Pirates combination go into the match having seen off an improving and very young Otiria side 31-17.
Otiria host Te Aupouri, who last week were only just beaten 21-18 at Kaeo in a tough and very even encounter.
On Saturday Kaeo will make the short trip north to Taipa for the derby match against Eastern, who continued their good form with a narrow 24-21 win over Kerikeri, a side in the rebuilding process.
At home on their controversial domain and in front of their supporters on Saturday, Kerikeri should take maximum points over Motukohukohu.
Te Rarawa's 11-match winning streak this season came to a grinding halt at Ludbrook Park on Saturday when the defending North Zone club rugby champions Ohaeawai, playing at home, tipped them over 23-12 in a thrilling round five contest.
The victory not only propelled Ohaeawai (20 points) to the top of
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