The Mangonui under-13 reps continued their build-up towards the 2013 Taniwha Shield tournament in Whangarei next week by beating Hokianga by 29-10 in extremely bitter winter conditions at Arnold Rae Park on Sunday.
While this made it two wins from two pre-season games (the first being a 51-27 victory againstthe Grizzlies in Kerikeri the previous weekend), Mangonui coach Eddy Evans warned against reading too much into the results as these sorts of matches were more about experimenting with positions and strategies.
"The conditions were really trying," said Evans of the wind, chill and rain on Sunday. '
'The Mangonui forwards played a good tight game and we dominated territory for the first half into the wind and built a good lead. Mangonui then played a sound second half looking to close the game out. Hokianga scored a couple of late tries in the second half."
Evans noted four of his starting 15 were unavailable, while several others who played were recovering from a bout of winter sickness which has been going around, but said he hopes to take 22 fit players away next week. The side continues to prepare for the tournament by training this morning at Arnold Rae Park. The side - along with its counterparts from the Bay of Islands and Hokianga - departs by bus on Monday for Whangarei where it will set up camp for the next four nights.
The 2013 Taniwha Shield Primary Schools Rugby tournament is being hosted by the Whangarei Junior Rugby Board and gets under way on Kensington Park in Whangarei next Tuesday. It will be played over the following five days with the new champions crowned on Saturday afternoon. The tournament also provides the first opportunity for local youngsters - i.e. those aged under 13 and under 55kg - to gain provincial honours for the first time in their lives; the best players from the eight sides are picked to trial for the Northland team taking part in the Roller Mills tournament in September.
The draw for the first three days of play in the Taniwha Shield will feature in next Tuesday's Age, with the edition also beginning its annual series of profiles on the three Far North teams taking part.
