The Mid Central Vipers got their 2015 NZRL National Premiership campaign off to the perfect start with a 38-4 win over minnows the Northland Swords at Massey Park in Papakura yesterday.
The team - made up of players from the Taranaki, Manawatu, and Hawke's Bay club competitions - included Whanganui
Boxon's Haze Reweti at halfback and Gordon Karaitiana at prop.
They ran rampant in the first half, leading 34-0 after fullback Tyson Lewis (Taranaki) and hooker Rakai Tuheke (Manawatu) scored a hat-trick and double respectively.
Centre Jordan Kerr (Manawatu) was the other try-scorer in the first half, while his provincial teammate Joe Ratu got the Vipers' only points of the second half.
While they could not maintain the momentum of the opening half, the victory was still an important confidence builder under their new coach Dion Te Ahu from Hawke's Bay.
