Panthers keep Kuaka well grounded

Senior resultsMuriwhenua Kuaka 10 Portland Panthers 40: Hard to imagine Muriwhenua could have played much worse in their first game at their new home venue at the Kaitaia A&P Showgrounds as round 3 from the RLN Multikai Cooker Premiership was completed on Saturday.

It was a performance coach Vinnie Rudolph will likely be glad to put behind him, but one he cannot afford to disregard if he is to turn his side into a competitive unit this season. A daunting number of unforced errors is one thing, but when players began kicking deep in their own lines - as well as attempting tricky offloads (which mostly failed badly) - on the first tackle then Rudolph has much to be concerned about. He remained positive, however, afterwards about the odd patch of spirited tackling which became the homeside's saving grace.

Of the visitors, a tidy effort all round for the team that recorded the upset of the year so far after beating the premier Stags in Portland last month. Mind you, it wasn't if they needed to do much. Notable for the Panthers was Far North ex-pat, Liam Collins, last seen playing for Ngaru Roa in Mangonui club rugby last year (and also the winning try-scorer in the dying minutes of the Mangonui club final a few years back and which gave Kaitaia the Bell Shield). At fullback, Collins was rarely tested.

Kuaka's two tries were Moewaka Samuels and Chris Vaasilli, with Brent Tecklenberg kicking ttwo conversions. Nathan Trent was the POTD while others to standout were second-rowers Cameron Thomas and Leighton Jordan, and Rawiri Harrison in his first game at prop.

There was a reasonable crowd there to enjoy the spectacle - played in balmy autumn conditions - but still a smaller turnout than expected considering this was the only game in town with no Mangonui rugby being played on the long weekend. The Kuaka now prepare for another tough ordeal at home this week, against the table-topping Takahiwai Warriors.

Note, this match kicked off at 1pm (not 2.30pm as previously advised) after both clubs agreed to the earlier time late last week.

Hokianga Pioneers 32 Hora Hora Broncos 18 (ht 10-10): Pioneers winning comfortably in Otaua on Saturday but not without enduring fierce resistance from the visitors. Hokianga spokesman William McCarthy noted his side had another good game but advised local supporters the Broncos were a team to watch this season.

"It was really close," said McCarthy, noting his team eventually began to pull away in the later stages of the second half. Charlie Bradley 2, Richie Koroi, Te Wairongoa Tohu, Elliot Pomare, and Glen Wilton were among the try-scorers, while standouts included Charles Timperley and Ngakuru Rodgers.

"We are looking forward to playing Hikurangi this Saturday," McCarthy concluded.

Otangarei Knights 22 Moerewa Tigers 12: Another loss, the Tigers' lack of form so far this year described by competition spokesperson Alex Smits as the biggest surprise of the 2014 season: being only one win out of four games. "The Tigers were the 2013 minor premiers and started that season with nine straight wins ... However their 28-12 loss to the Otangarei Knights was no surprise as the Knights have been under-performing in 2014 and played with discipline for 80 minutes to secure a confident win."

Also Kerikeri Makos 6 Hikurangi Stags 36: no surprises there; and Takahiwai Warriors 54 Northern Wairoa 34.

Both the competition standings and draw for round 4 this Saturday feature nearby.

Primary schoolsA turnout of 10 local schools for the inaugural Muriwhenua Primary Schools Modified Rugby League Competition in Kaitaia last week has been labelled by organisers as a triumph for both rugby

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