LEAGUE - Twinkle- toed prop saves day for hosts

A nifty piece of kicking by Takahiwai prop Para Murray turned out to be the turning point in their match against the Hikurangi Stags on Saturday, helping them to a 30-14 win.
The Whangarei and Districts rugby league match was a sparkling affair despite the dismal conditions at Takahiwai, with the lead changing hands five times during the match.
The wet conditions played to the visitors' strengths in the first spell as they proved more effective at making metres close to the ruck.
Stags' props Brent Dunn and Ari Walsh were outstanding in the number of hit-ups they completed and the Takahiwai defence struggled to keep them off their line.
The Stags trailed 4-8 at the break and, despite having just two players on the interchange bench, looked full of energy at the start of the second spell.
Stags' Scott Hutchinson crashed over to retake the lead after ill discipline saw Takahiwai defending on their line for two or three sets.
A head clash in a tackle saw two Stags players taken off, leaving them a man down and giving Takahiwai the space to strike out wide and take a 12-10 lead.
Cory Abrahams hit back for Hikurangi before Takahiwai again played the numbers game and retook the lead.
The game's turning point came after Takahiwai confusion on the fifth tackle play.
A misdirected pass flew toward Murray and, instead of getting out of the way, the prop caught the ball on his shoelaces and grubbered it into the Stags in-goal, where it bounced awkwardly, confusing the defence and allowing a gleeful Murray to regather and dot down.
The try broke Hikurangi's stubborn resistance and their hosts ran in two more tries to finish the match off.
Both teams had positives to take from the match. Takahiwai were pleased they outlasted the Stags challenge by playing to their strengths and the beaten team can take plenty of stock from the fact that, without three of their top players and with only half a bench, they competed with the Warriors for so long.
Elsewhere in the competition, Ngawha Saints continued their unbeaten run with a 26-12 win over Kaikohe Lions.
For the second week in a row, however, the Saints struck an under-strength side at their ground inside Ngawha Prison.
Lions' coaching assistant Dion Akuhata said they were missing their two ball-playing `generals', Woody Maihi and Tuffy Munro, who were unavailable for the match through other commitments, as well as three or four of their regular players who were carrying injuries.
"That's no excuse though, they were a formidable squad, very good and I'm picking they'll be there or thereabouts when it comes to semifinal time," Akuhata predicted, adding that the main problem for his side had been their inability to hold on to the ball and put pressure on their opponents.
The other two matches in the competition produced close results, with Portland just edging out their guests, the Bay Slayers, 40-34. Champions Moerewa, meanwhile, survived a strong challenge from the Northern Wairoa Bulls to win 40-32 at Simson Park.