Consecutive U15 titles for Mangonui

SCORCHED EARTH POLICY: Mangonui rep players celebrate winning the Northland U15 tournament title for the second consecutive year in Whangarei last Friday.

Mangonui progressed unbeaten through the annual Northland under-15 tournament to claim the title for the second year running in Whangarei last week.

Even the use of the term 'unbeaten' at the event - hosted by Marist RFC at Kensington Park from Monday to Friday last week - could be regarded as misleading considering Mangonui's domination, winning all four games while scoring 173 points and only conceding 25.

The result also represented the second time in the relatively short two-year history of the tournament that Mangonui has claimed the title by winning every game.

Mangonui manager Eddie Evans noted the side had to come from behind to beat Far North stablemates the Bay of Islands by two late tries; while the last game of the week against Whangarei on the final day - a side which was also unbeaten up to that point - was a great battle and saw Whangarei spending a majority of the second half on attack only to be held up over the line a couple of times by staunch defence.

Results by Far North teams were: Mangonui: beat Northern Wairoa 98-0, beat Bay of Islands 22-13, beat Rodney Otamatea 31-7, and beat Whangarei 22-5; Bay of Islands: loss to Whangarei 19-23, loss to Mangonui 13-22, beat Northern Wairoa 67-24 and beat Rodney Otamatea 44-5.

Other results were: Northern Wairoa 15 Rodney/Otamatea 7, Whangarei 29 Northern Wairoa 0, Whangarei 26 Rodney Otamatea 13.

The Northland Rugby Union tournament was designed to provide under-15 players throughout the province an opportunity to play rep rugby.

During the week long event players enjoyed video sessions and technical practice with a focus on tackling, an area regarded as vital in the development of players at this age-grade.

As well, the two Far North sub union teams in this year's event were again given preferential treatment by having their accommodation costs for the week covered for their stays at WBHS' Carruth House.

On the downside here was one concussion and a serious leg injury, while a highlight was the respect towards the referee in a time when referee abuse has again become a national issue.

Five Mangonui players - Eddie Naicovi, Adam Pomare, Sidney Pomare, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Memphis Ngaruhe - were picked for the Northland U15 rep squad chosen from the tournament to embark on a three-match tour of the Bay of Plenty later this year.

Taniwha squad

As expected, players from the Bay of Islands team which won the Dave Culham Taniwha Shield at Dargaville earlier this month form the nucleus of the wider Northland squad set to challenge for the 2016 Roller Mills tournament title in September.

The squad named earlier this week is Samuel Harper, Harry Davis, Wiremu Flavell, Charlie Tua, Josh Whyte, Takoha Lunjevich, Te Kauri Parkinson, Layken Tua, Liam Anderson, Te Tai Rawhiti Croft (Bay Of Islands); Leon Jarrett, Levon Pure, Kian Simeon, Kasyn Ormsby, Kahrn Ormsby (Mangonui); Robin Herbert, James Rudolph, Arona Taurima (Hokianga); Taurus Tau, Brad Cross, Mana Mackie, Leo Palmer, Jade Stewart, Anthony Uili, Tama Anderson, Teina More-Thompson, Callum Gray, Jackson Younger (Whangarei); Jayden Hammon, Sione Kivalu, Lucas Payne, Dajan Mrkusich, Pohutukawa Kakara (Northern Wairoa); and, Kyrin Harris (Otamatea/Rodney).

The team management - head coach Morrice Colley, assistant coach Rick Sherman, manager Melanie Harrison and physio/medic Graeme Powdrell - thanked all of the players, family and supporters for being at the trial game last Saturday.

The extended squad train at Northern RFC in Hukerenui tomorrow at 5pm, and Sunday at 11am before the final squad is confirmed next week.