A last minute try by Waikato threw Northland under-15 league players into despair at last week's Northern Districts tournament at Rotorua.
The try, scored by the former Kiwi Tarewa Nikau's son, gave Waikato a 30-26 victory and cost Northland the tournament - but coach Joe Rau said while disappointing it was
a valiant effort by his team.
"Just the week before the tournament we got beaten 64-4 by the same Waikato side so to come back and be leading the game with a minute to go was a big improvement, just to be competitive for the whole game," he said.
A missed kick cost the team a win in their match against Bay of Plenty but they rescued a 22-all draw, which was enough - along with their 20-14 victory over Bay of Plenty Coastline - to secure second place at the tournament at Puketawhero Park.
Four Northland players - prop Luke Tuimavave, second rower Monty Tikena, five-eight Gavin Causer and fullback Jordan Rau, were selected into the Northern Districts team to play against Auckland, Central Districts and Southern next week at Hopuhopu.
The Northland team had one final match ahead of them on their return to Whangarei - they hosted and beat the touring Canterbury under-15 side, 34-20.
"The boys were a bit bruised but they had one more game left in them when they got home," Rau said.
It was a brave effort by the team that improved on their result from the previous season.
The coach said loose forward Blaise Stevens was the most unfortunate player not to make the ND selection after he played brilliantly at the tournament in his first season after changing codes from rugby.
