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Home / Northern Advocate / Sport

Rugby: Playoff spots, titles on line

Northern Advocate
18 Jul, 2013 06:10 PM3 mins to read

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Winter sport around Northland this weekend will reach boiling point as teams battle for playoff spots, or for championship titles.

Toll Stadium will tomorrow host the division two rugby final, kicking off at 2pm, as Whangaruru look to complete a top-class season after having won their last 14 encounters.

Standing in their way is the in-form Tomarata, which tipped over the second-placed Southern in the run into the playoffs to finish third overall.

Whangaruru will be favourites come tomorrow afternoon, when they will be out for revenge after last year being denied a shot at promotion by Waipu, losing in the final 26-12.

Last time the two sides met, about six weeks ago, Whangaruru romped home 39-5.

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Playing as the curtain raiser, at 12.30pm, will be Kamo High School and the Ninety Milers from the under-19 competition.

Meanwhile, in rugby league, with one round to play, only three points separate teams between first and fifth place in the Rugby League Northland Premiership.

This weekend teams will battle to claim the top two spots, which would give their sides a week off as the lower-ranked sides play a minor semifinal.

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Currently the Moerewa Tigers have done enough to claim the Minor Premiership while Takahiwai Warriors sit in second spot. The Hikurangi Stags and the Hokianga Pioneers are within striking distance of Takahiwai though.

This weekend Moerewa have the bye while Takahiwai will need to be on form to beat Hikurangi in what will be the match of the round, the winner likely to take second place.

However, Hikurangi look to have rediscovered their form with the return of player/coach Joe Rau during their last-round 40-26 win over the Portland Panthers. The game had a semifinal atmosphere, Portland needing to win to stay in the top six. Portland now needs results to go their way to play finals football.

In football the Northern Football Federation Men's Federation One Cup will kick off this weekend with several Northland teams taking on Auckland based sides. Round-one fixtures will see Tikipunga take on Oratia M1 at home while Kerikeri will also host Waitakere Vitor. Meanwhile, Kamo and Central Brown will travel to play Takapuna Boca Seniors and Air Force M1.

In Bayleys Southern Districts Premier club rugby the top four teams have already been secured, but sides face a tough final weekend as they look to dictate who will have home semifinals.

Mid Northern, Hora Hora, Old Boys Marist and Mid Western have all secured playoff spots, but where they will finish is up in the air. Mid Western have the tough task of travelling to Hukerenui looking to upset the competition leaders, while Old Boys Marist have to beat fifth-placed Wellsford side if they are to be in with a shot at a home semi. Meanwhile, Hora Hora have the seemingly easy task of playing Hikurangi who will be looking for any bonus points to stay away from being the bottom-placed side.

Joining Hikurangi, in the battle at the wrong end of the table, is Waipu and Otamatea, who are playing each other, with the losing to take on the winner of the division two final.

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