Kamo is top of the pops after opening round of club rugby

Kamo No 10 Nikau Graham takes on the Hora Hora defence during his side's big win over Hora Hora. Photo / Tania Whyte

Some magical water may not be the only thing Hora Hora mentor Marcel Kaipo needs to get his key players back from injury. Winning their own set piece has got to be the prime focus following a 67-19 drubbing at the hands of Kamo in the opening round of the Tyrepower Premier rugby on Saturday.

Shorn of six key players, hosts Hora Hora were forced to field reserve players who struggled to get out of their own half for most of the game as Kamo screwed the nut tighter and ramped up pressure from the opening minute.

The game was over at half time, with the scoreboard reading 41-5 in favour of the visitors.

"Kamo came very well prepared, they were very well structured. Injuries did ravage us, this week six of our starters were injured and we were digging into a lot into the reserve grade for the match," Kaipo lamented.

"I think we get a couple back next week, hopefully some magical water can get them back on the field quicker."

Kaipo said while his side got exposed in a few areas, there were also positives that came out of the drubbing.

"You can't play prem rugby if you can't win set piece. We brought in a lot of those reserve players and they seemed to be a little bit lost in stages so our shape, our set piece stuff went pear shape but it's for us to train a lot more closer with the reserve grade."

There was no stopping Kamo, who came prepared to graft and grind to outdo Hora Hora physically and to get the job done.

With a stiff breeze behind their back, Kamo opted for territory from the opening whistle and it paid off in spades against a side that was massively out of sorts.

They were definitely better, there was more urgency and accuracy in everything they did, and by doing the simple things better and doing them more often, Kamo was able to go forward when they had the ball.

Dan Wells of Hora Hora finds the going tough during his side's loss to Kamo. Photo / Tania Whyte

It took just seven minutes for Kamo to open the scoring. No 8 Kane Jacobson scooped the ball off the back of the scrum and strolled unchallenged under the posts.

Kamo piled on five more tries as indiscipline, missed tackles, and a struggle to keep pace with the match began creeping in for the hosts.

Nikau Graham ran the cutter well at No 10 for Kamo and brought the sort of chicanery first fives produce at their mercurial best.

Beefy Alexander Gale, lanky Setefano Funaki, and openside flanker Grayson Thyne were massive in the collision upfront which allowed the backs, in particular wingers Tyson Williams and Brody Lam, to run with aplomb.

Coach John Fitzpatrick was full of praise for Nikau and his forwards.

"He went away for a couple of years, played down in Auckland, came back and made a massive difference for us. I thought he had a really good game for us. I thought our forward pack played pretty well. Our number 7 played pretty well, too."

Hora Hora showed glimpses of magical play in the early stages of the second spell but kept drifting out of the contest as the pressure mounted and so did the frustration levels.

Kamo lock Setefano Funaki wins a lineout close to the Hora Hora tryline. Photo / Tania Whyte

A fascinating piece of play by Hora Hora that led to a try involved wing Lachlan Bill who latched on to a loose ball on the halfway mark, scooted down the blindside before offloading to No 10 Dan Wells who toiled throughout the match made some damaging run down the midfield channel.

In the other premier matches played on Saturday, Kerikeri walloped Hikurangi 62-14, defending champions Waipu lost at home to the Western Sharks13-45, Mid Northern beat Wellsford 27-13, and Moerewa lost to Old Boys' Marist 10-35.