Local focus turns to rep duties

Northland season starts Northland rugby supporters will once again don their replica jerseys and drag their old Cambridge Blue coloured scarves out of the closet and converge upon Toll Stadium to watch the Taniwha playing their first game of the ITM Cup (Championship lower tier) season on Sunday.

The side was not named by the Northland Rugby Union until later this week but was expected to feature local club players, Awanui's Jone Macilai and Kerikeri's Jack Ram, while two other local players, Filipo Nakosi and Whiria Meltzer (both Awanui), are not expected to be seen until later in the season when they have recovered from their respective injuries.

The draw of Sunday is, Northland vs Manawatu at Toll Stadium (ITM Cup) at 4.35pm, and preceded by two curtain raisers, Northland B vs Auckland B at 2.35pm and Northland Roller Mills (primary schools) vs North Harbour primary schools at 1pm. The other Northland team in action over the weekend is the Northland Colts who take on their Auckland counterparts at Waipu on Saturday at 12.30pm.

The latter three teams all feature Far North players but while the full team lists for the Taniwha, Northland Bs and Colts were not available at time of going to press, the Northland Roller Mills side was named in the July 31 edition of the Age.

Milers climaxWhangarei Boys' High School 11 Ninety Milers 6 (ht 8-3): The final of the Bayleys School Club championship (the event formerly known as the Northland wide under 18, then under 19) between Whangarei Boys' High School and Milers at Awanui on Friday night had all the elements of a great game and delivered a very close encounter.

Controversy four days out added some drama to the clash, with WBHS saying they couldn't field a team on Saturday - as several of their players had chosen to play in a league grand final - so would have to default. The Milers were keen to go down and play them as scheduled but it was decided if the game was to be changed it would be to the Milers' advantage, hence the Friday night game at home.

This was a very even contest with the two teams' defence cancelling each other out but the Milers were guilty of giving away too many penalties, which kept them from sustaining any pressure. A penalty each comprised the only points scored until just on halftime, when a loose pass was intercepted by WBHS and they scored to lead at the break.

The second half saw the Milers playing with a little more discipline but were unable to convert any good territory into points losing a couple of lineouts hard on attack that should of lead to points. A penalty each left the game closely balanced at 11-6 to WBHS with 10 minutes remaining. As fulltime closed in, the Miler forwards worked their way to within a few metres of the line after 16 phases of pick-and-go to create an opportunity to grab victory in the last minutes. However, a turnover saw WBHS able to clear the ball and it was game over. A hard fought game that both sides could lay claim that they deserved to win but WBHS prevailed to win the Powell Shield for 2014.

Milers points: Raymond Morunga 2 penalties (and back POTD); while also standing out was Teina Pirini (forward POTD). Elsewhere, the Milers congratulated those players who have gone on to make the Northland U18s being Hayden Jurlina, Keegan Murray, Cambell Matthews, Rayner Johnson, Tamati Tua, Kyle Thomson and Justin Brown.

In conclusion, coach Dave Jurlina noted it had been overall, a great year for the Far North team which had to rebuild after last year, but a group of very loyal players saw the season through with excellent numbers at trainings and games. On behalf of the team, he gave a huge thank you to the Awanui and Eastern rugby clubs for the use of their facilities as well as manager Norm Bryan, assistant coach Rob Lopes and strapper Gloria Harrison.

IMB repsThe Mangonui under-14 and 16 reps take on their Bay of Islands counterparts at Kaeo this Saturday. There will be a bus leaving the Liquor King carpark at 8am on Saturday and picking up players at Taipa at 8.30am.