LEAGUE - Injury depleted Slayers show they are Lion-killers

Bay Slayers confirmed they are a force to be reckoned with in the Whangarei and District league this season by beating Kaikohe Lions 22-20 in a thriller at Ohaeawai on Saturday.
Slayers manager Justin Webster said the win was quite an achievement for the team. Webster was forced to play his second game of the season, with both teams struggling with long injury lists in the lead-up to the match.
"We were pretty happy with the result and while we're probably too far behind to make the semifinals, we've done what we set out to do this year which was to upset a few of the big teams and to set a benchmark for next year."
The Slayers are one of two new teams in the competition this year and, after conceding a few big losses in the opening rounds, have become a team the playoff contenders have begun to be wary of.
Kaikohe coach Jay Hepi said that while his side were beaten on the field they would contest the points again in the boardroom.
"We knew they would come hard at us, and we weren't disappointed, but while we may have lost on the field we'll be appealing the result because we think they played an unregistered player, and two points are valuable to us at this stage of the season."
Webster said that Kaikohe hadn't believed his assurances that the player in question was registered and he wasn't concerned about the challenge.
"They're not too happy with the loss as they are the third place team but their management seemed to think one of our players wasn't registered but he was, so they can moan all they like, it won't change anything," he said.
The Slayers gained the early advantage in the game and were ahead 10-6 at the break. The second half continued in much the same vein, with the Slayers forwards gaining good metres close to the ruck. Kaikohe scored a late try to narrow the gap with time almost up on the clock but it was too late to affect the result.
Portland Panthers registered their third successive loss of the season when they were beaten by Ngawha Saints 58-4.
Ngawha played an expansive game despite the wet conditions and Portland had no answer.
Takahiwai beat Marist at Otaika Park by the same scoreline. Marist once against started the game with 13 players and played with their usual courage but, up against the league leaders, the numerical disadvantage soon took its toll and Takahiwai ran away with the game.
The match between Hikurangi Stags and Northern Wairoa Bulls was another close one, with the Bulls' inexperience costing them.
The Stags were able to mix up their game and kicked over the top of the defence to create scoring opportunities when they couldn't find holes in the Bulls defence.
The Stags led 18-4 at halftime but the Bulls finished strongly to score 16 points in the last 15 minutes to just come up short of a win by four points, with Hikurangi winning 24-20.