League: Takahiwai, Hikurangi on way to final

An 18-point haul by Takahiwai's Kyle Hool has helped his side to the Rugby League Northland Premiership grand final this weekend, where they will meet the Hikurangi Stags at Toll Stadium.

Hool's haul was two tries and five conversions, only missing one shot at goal all day, as his side overcame a spirited Hokianga Pioneers 34-18.

However, Takahiwai did not have it all their own way during Saturday's semifinal at Toll Stadium, as Hokianga got the jump on them to be 6-0 up three minutes in, thanks to a captain Richard Koroi busting over.

But if Hokianga thought getting one try up early on the Takahiwai Warriors would dishearten them, they were wrong.

Charles Tarau hit back five minutes later for Takahiwai, after Para Murray bumped off a Hokianga defender and handed the ball to Tarau, who accelerated down the right hand side to score under the posts for Hool to convert and make it 6-6.

Charles' try was the first of three Tarau tries, as Cole crossed next by dotting down from dummy half, before Rikki set the game alight with an 80m counter attack to make it 18-6.

With Hokianga needing to score some points to stay in the match, Pouri Hohaia stepped up to muscle his way over near the posts to make it 18-12 with 12 minutes left in the half.

Unfortunately for Hokianga, Hool and Co came back at them as Hool gave a short ball Nicholas Schuster, who in turn gave it back for a try under the posts to make it 24-12 at half time.

Ten minutes into the second half, Hool again worked his magic at first receiver, as he stepped his way through a tiring Hokianga defence to put the nail in the coffin and take the sting out of the opposition. Following Hool's try, Murray rubbed salt into the wound with a try before Hokianga scored a consolation try five minutes from time, thanks to Jordan Otene.

In the other semifinal at Toll Stadium, Hikurangi upset the minor premiership winners, the Moerewa Tigers, 32-14 in what was a replay of last year's grand final. While the score may look flattering to the Hikurangi Stags, it is not a true reflection on the game as Moerewa had their fair share of chances, two of which were denied thanks to an offside and a forward pass.

The match started with a hiss and a roar, with the roar coming from the Stags rather than the Tigers, as Moerewa's Marshal Ruka was sinbinned five minutes in for kicking a player on the ground.

Like professionals, Hikurangi made them pay for it and opened the scoring a minute later with a try to Te Tuhi Tipene. Player-coach, and co-captain Joe Rau was next on the score sheet, as he slipped a tackle to score and then convert to make it 12-0. Rau's try was the first points for him on his way to notching up 12 of his side's 32 points.

With Ruka returning from the bin, he got into his work early by scoring a try out wide straight away, dislocating his thumb in the process. Ruka's converted try was one of two for him during the semi.

Also getting on the score sheet for Hikurangi was Dean Schreurs, Innocent Tuimavave - collecting a Rau banana kick - and Sheldon McKinley with a double.

Joining Ruka on the score sheet for Moerewa was Tieimi Ransfield, with Jayden Bentley-Hape nailing one sideline conversion to complete his side's 14 points.

Saturday's grand final will be a rematch of the Takahiwai and Hikurangi clash two weeks ago, on which occasion Takahiwai were victors 36-22.

Takahiwai: 34 (Charles Tarau, Cole Tarau, Rikki Tarau, Para Murray, Kyle Hool 2 tries; Hool 5 cons); Hokianga: 18 (Richard Koroi, Pouri Hohaia, Jordan Otene; Verne Wilson 3 cons).

Hikurangi: 32 (Te Tuhi Tipene, Joe Rau, Dean Schreurs, Innocent Tuimavave, Sheldon McKinley 2 tries; Rau 4 cons); Moerewa: 14 (Tieimi Ransfield, Marshal Ruka 2 tries; Jayden Bentley-Hape 1 con).