League: Forestland overcome rocky beginning

Tokoroa's Forestland Rugby League Club has begun their ascent towards the finals after a disastrous start to the season.

Forestland started the season losing most of their games by a cricket score but have recently found some good form in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League premier division.

On Saturday, they lost in a close contest to top-of-the-table Pikiao 26-22, after leading at halftime 12-6.

Only a week before that result they edged out a close victory against second-placed Taupo.

In other games this month, they have registered two tight matches with Pacific and Ngongotaha.

Coach Riki Nicholls said that after the tough start to the season his players had simply grown hungry for results.

"They really want this, you can tell from the way they are playing and what they are doing," he said.

"I'm pretty proud of the boys."

He said all the players who were not injured worked really hard at trainings and joined in during the team run on a Friday.

Nicholls said they had some players slowly coming back from injury, as well as some great local support at each home game, which also helped.

Now only one win behind fourth-placed Ngongotaha, the semifinals have become a real possibility for Nicholls' men.

"Watch this space," he said.

In other results on the weekend, Taupo were too good for Ngongotaha at Puketawhero Park, defeating them 34-18 and Pacific (Tokoroa) had the bye.

The ninth round of premier rugby league action will be held on June 15, after the Town versus Country match at Puketawhero Park on June 8.

Nicholls will coach the Country side in the match.

There are no games over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Reserve grade results:

Pikiao 12 Pacific 30, Ngongotaha 0 Central 66, Taupo 44 Turangi 6, Mangakino 48 Tauhara 16, Reporoa 58 Putaruru 4.