Rau plays pivotal role in win

Table leaders Hikurangi Stags delivered a strong message ahead of Whangarei City and Districts Rugby League's semifinals with a dominant 38-16 win over close rivals Portland at Takahiwai.
Due to a growing injury list, Stags coach Joe Rau donned his old jersey for his team and controlled the game from standoff.
Portland coach Craig Bird said he knew his side was up against it with the former Northland representative Rau in the mix.
"Joe controls the game when he's on the field, and our boys didn't know how to nullify that," Bird commented after Saturday's round 14 clash.
The Stags were without form backs Shannon Neho and Caleb Henare, along with usual standoff Darren Henare.
During Saturday's game, Jarom Henare injured his knee and Jordan Rau reinjured his ankle causing some concerns for the Stags' coach.
In what was a double dose of bad luck, centre/second rower Caleb Henare broke the third metacarpal in his left hand against Marist last weekend ahead of the first round of semifinals on July 30. Last year he broke the same bone in his right hand, while playing Portland in the second round which meant he could not play in the grand final against Kaikohe.
However, from the sidelines, Henare said he was not going to let his injury stop him from playing in this year's final should the Stags progress through to the August 13 fixture at Jubilee Park.
Portland started strongly in Saturday's clash, which was transferred from Portland due to poor field conditions. The Panthers got out to a 12-0 lead with tries from standoff Lyn Hunapo and scrum half Kass Wall, who converted both tries. But the Stags quickly found their momentum, and centre Isa Nawaqa bolted in for three tries, giving his side a narrow 12-14 lead at halftime. Five minutes into the second half, Portland's Michael Salase found a gap and put his side back in front briefly. And then the Stags hit the ground running, drawing the Portland team across the field, leaving gaps in their defensive line which the Stags took advantage of. Nawaqa dotted down his fourth try of the day, followed by one from Rau with 20 minutes remaining.
Kyron Henare followed suit with a try in the same corner and despite being down to 12 players with Innocent Tuimavave sinbinned for 10 minutes, Sean O'Calaghan crossed for the Stags, which was then backed up by a try from Dean Showes which blew the score out.
Joe Rau said the performance was a credit to his team. Despite the injury list, the club had enough depth to draw on to gather a strong team, he said.
In other round 14 matches, second-placed Bay Slayers beat Hokianga 48-16, while Kaikohe had a comprehensive 62-4 victory over Otaua. Wairoa were too strong for City, winning 12-56, while Takahiwai played Marist in the second game of a double header at Takahiwai, and won 60-16. Moerewa sat out this round with the bye.
WCDRL points (provisional) after Round 14: Hikurangi 26, Bay 24, Portland 20, Kaikohe 20, Moerewa 16, Takahiwai 16, Wairoa 14, City 12, Hokianga 10, Otaua 7, Marist 3.