RUGBY: Murray spearheads upset win as selectors look on

For a while now Karl Murray has been on the fringe of bigger things with his rugby career.
The former Warriors rugby league development star got a run for Northland once last season but has fallen from favour with the new provincial coaching regime this year as they navigate their way toward the representative season.
But the talented utility back was centre stage at the ITM Stadium yesterday, perhaps enlivened by the chance to strut his stuff in front of the Northland selectors.
Murray almost single-handedly spearheaded Waipu to a 19-16 upset win over Mid Northern, a result that keeps his club in the hunt for a tilt at the Joe Morgan Memorial Trophy in the Northland-wide club rugby competition this season.
Murray scored the game-clinching try, kicked four penalty goals and slotted a conversion to give Waipu the win in what must rank as Waipu's most significant victory this season. It was Waipu's fourth win in four weeks.
The things is, the Kevin Lewis-coached outfit need to maintain their winning streak for another two weeks at least just to make the semifinals, and obviously stretch that run another two weeks to pick up the championship title.
But if Saturday's performance was any indication then Waipu might just be poised to make their first appearance in the Northland-wide play-offs.
Lewis, in his atypical honest fashion, reckoned it was good to see his team "show a bit of passion" to upend Mid Northern, but was not about to predict the fate of his team now the business end of the competition looms.
"We need to get another win, it was good to get stuck in and come out with a win in a close one for a change but it is a close competition and anything can happen," Lewis said.
That much has been true of the Northland-wide club competition since it began but is ringing particularly true for defending champions Hora Hora right now.
Hora Hora have slid from first to third in seven weeks and after losing to Hikurangi 15-8 on Saturday are staring down the barrel of an ignominous exit from the semifinals if they fail to turn their season around in the next two weeks.
Trouble is they meet Waipu this weekend.
Hikurangi, thanks to the efforts of front rowers Gary Whippy and Mike Paniora and the services of flanker Aaron Wright, were always in control over Hora Hora and now seem on track for the semifinals.
There is no such comfort for Wellsford or Awanui though, as they are still locked in this increasingly desperate battle to survive for the play-offs with Hora Hora and Waipu despite both recording victories on Saturday.
Wellsford fended off Marist 36-20, scoring six tries in the process to ensure their status as title contenders remains intact. Awanui predictably dealt to Otamatea 44-10 by scoring eight tries to one.
As for the also-rans, those teams with no chance of making the play-offs, it looks as if Kamo are faring best as they try to maintain their dignity and maybe even build some momentum for next season.
Kamo walloped the Western Sharks 30-0 with veteran Tony Monaghan bagging a hat trick at Kamo.