Marist aim to bolster revival with victory

When cellar-dwellers Marist meet Otaua tomorrow in round eight of the Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League competition, it will be their turn to shine.
It has been a tough start for the rebuilding club, back in the competition after a two-year hiatus.
Marist were a dominant force in the competition from 2005, to 2008 and won the premiership in 2006 and in 2008.
The main goal of coach Kris Langley, a former player who is enjoying his first year of coaching, is to build up Marist to be stronger than before, developing their large number of junior players and bringing them through the ranks.
It may take a couple of seasons but Langley sees nothing but potential in his young side of rugby converts, high school players and a couple of old heads thrown in for good measure.
"We are a very young side, most of the guys have never played league before but have got involved as they want to try out the code, or their friends are playing," Langley said.
"But we have a few experienced players who were part of the winning championship Marist side ... they have just joined us in the last two weeks.
"They've been watching us and I guess they felt sorry for us getting hammered every week, so they decided to play again and it's been to our advantage."
The club struggled in several early rounds, but despite player shortages, took to the field and competed with 10 and 11 men against heavyweights Kaikohe and Portland.
Then, with the likes of centre Hopa Woodhead, prop/forward Joe Clyde and Ken Tavui recently joining the team, along with Portland transfers Wayne and Graham Edmonds, Winiata Tipene, and former Hikurangi Stags player Moko Turner, Langley assembled a squad of 20 lads, who are willing to put in the hard yards to turn their team's fortunes around.
"What we have now is a group of 20 players, who will be competitive with the other teams in the competition," he said.
Last weekend, Marist had their first major triumph of the season, drawing 26-26 with Hokianga Pioneers. And although they were playing a depleted Pioneers outfit and it was not a victory, Langley believed it was just the boost in confidence his team needed, particularly heading into this weekend's clash with Otaua at their home ground, a game the Marist outfit were targeting as a win.
"The boys have trained Monday, Wednesday and we will again tonight," Langley said.
"We are serious about winning.
"Otaua have not yet won a game so it's definitely doable for us - I think they will view us as a threat."
Otaua are a point ahead of Marist on the table, with two points from their round one bye, while Marist gained a point after their draw last weekend.
Round eight will also see Kaikohe host Wairoa at Kaikohe, Hokianga play Hikurangi at Okaihau, Bay Slayers up against Takahiwai at Kerikeri, and Moerewa take on Portland at Simpson Park. All matches kick off at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Points after round 7: Hikurangi 12, Portland 12, Bay 12, Takahiwai 10, Hokianga 9, Kaikohe 8, Wairoa 6, Moerewa 6, City 6, Otaua 2, Marist 1.