Finals rugby claimed its first victim at Farmland's Park in Dargaville on Saturday with Kamo upsetting competition frontrunners the Western Sharks 14-11 in extra time to go through to the final against Mid Northern next week. The Sharks had lost only one match in the regular season but found a
determined opposition in fourth-placed Kamo.
Kamo skipper Craig Burrows said they were strengthened by first team part-timers Bertus van Bureen and Danny Mace but otherwise the team remained the same core squad that had seen them reach the competition semifinals.
"We had a pretty steady season, with a decent first round but we fell off a bit in the second round but we're happy to make the final here today after losing the semi last year," he said.
Burrows led from the front as the Kamo forwards played a big part in the game - particularly in the final quarter of regulation time when the Sharks launched everything they had at their line.
Thanks to a Tony Monaghan try midway through the first spell, the home side trailed 8-3 at the break, and Brodie Marron added another penalty to give them a buffer going into the final quarter.
The Sharks threw everything they had at Kamo and when the visitors had two players in succession sinbinned for professional fouls, they began to make headway.
Sifa Mafi narrowed the gap to 6-11 with a penalty before winger Hamish Stokes scored in the corner to force the game into extra time.
Kamo seized the advantage in the first period of extra time and went close to scoring but the Sharks defence held and Kamo were forced to take the points on offer when they were awarded a penalty at the end of the spell.
After turning for the final time, Kamo again surprised the locals with their determination and played the majority of the time remaining in the Sharks quarter for a deserved victory.
