The defending champions had to battle hard against a committed Tigers lineup keen to show off their early pre-season form.

In what turned out to be a fascinating and entertaining arm wrestle, both teams sized each other up in the first 10 minutes with some big hits and at times ill-discipline around the ruck area testing the patience of referee Alan Jackson.

The game settled into a good spectacle when twice in 10 minutes the Bears worked slick moves down the left flank to create tries to left winger Chance Te Uira and centre Paul Tuuta.

To their credit, the Tigers rallied with a try to hooker Travell Ngatoko after a darting run from dummy half.

Soon after, Tigers’ big bench forward Dylan Haggart crashed over for a well-taken try to level the scores at 12-12.

A piece of Cruz Rauner magic created a try out of nothing for Andre Kauika when he chipped over the top regathered and fed the winger who scored under the posts. Right on halftime, Rauner slotted a neat field goal to give the Bears a 19-12 lead.

Early in the second half, the Bears worked play to the left which resulted in Tuuta showing all his power and determination to score his second try to extend the lead to 23-12.

The Tigers responded with a converted try to Sione Sifa after a strong burst to make it 23-18 but missed two other tries – the first by losing the ball near the line and the second by not going wide on the last play.

With 10 minutes remaining, impressive Bears standoff Trask Daymond scored a sneaky try under the posts to extend the Bears lead, with the Tigers having the last say when winger Arana Haenga scored in the corner.

Players to stand out for Waitara Bears were second rower Jarrod Morfett along with hard-working forwards Coltan Tamati and Henare O’Carroll. Best of the backs were Rauner, Tuuta and Daymond.

For the home side, Ngatoko and lock Sam Bennett were always threats.

The Bell Block Marist Dragons had far too much firepower for the Hawera Hawks turning up the heat to score a convincing 76-8 win in Hawera.

After a season out of the game, the Dragons came back strongly against last year’s beaten finalists, who were having their first outing of the year.

The Dragons scored 13 tries including hat-tricks to Aidan Prestney and Dylan Halls, with Halls kicking eight goals and Taani Prestney four.

On Saturday, the Western Suburbs Tigers take on the Hawera Hawks at Ngamotu Domain, with the Marist Dragons up against the Coastal Cobras at Bell Block’s Hickford Bell Block. The Waitara Bears have the bye.

- © Fairfax NZ News

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/9889024/Tough-start-for-defending-champs

A disappointing lack of resistance by the Moerewa Tigers, convincingly dismantled on home turf by the Hokianga Pioneers on Saturday afternoon, was of concern as round 2 of the RLN Multikai Cooker Premiership club league competition was completed in blistering late-summer conditions on Saturday afternoon.

There’s no doubt the Tigers – one of the most successful Bay of Islands teams in the province over the past decade – are hurting, missing several of their most promising players from last season who have taken up the 15-man game with Bay champions, Moerewa.

While full credit must be given to the veterans for once again pulling on a jersey on Saturday, even the staunchest Moerewa stalwart would reluctantly admit there were far too many old-timers out there for anyone’s liking; while the number of supporters for what used to be one of the most eagerly anticipated derbies in the mid north could best be described as mediocre. (In reply, observers noted there were “two birthdays on”, as well as a big rugby derby in nearby Kawakawa between UK and Otiria.)

On behalf of a Hokianga unit debuting a flash new kit, coach William McCarthy didn’t want to talk up Hokianga’s comfortable victory too much, because it was still early season and also due to the lack of opposition. “It was nice to beat them, but not like that.” McCarthy noted his side was not in quite the same predicament as Moerewa, having benefited from neighbouring Otaua Valley’s withdrawal from the competition this year, thus picking up that team’s stray players.

Pioneers standouts included Te Wairangoa Tohu at No 13, and prop Elliot Pomare who made some big runs, while also notable were Wally Heremia with two tries, adding to tries by Richie Koroi and Shannon Haare.

Moerewa’s next game against the Otangarei Knights may take place under lights at Hikurangi tomorrow.

- Northland Age
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=11238542

The defending champions stamped their class in the third quarter and powered away to win 52-38 in front of a big crowd at the TSB Stadium.

The Waitara side’s chances in the McDonald Real Estate final all but went out the window as the defending champions slotted seven unanswered goals in the final five minutes of the third quarter to go to the final break leading 39-27.

“Relief, that was the biggest emotion afterwards,” Inglewood coach Tracy White said.

“Back-to-back titles is always sweet. I’m really happy . . . the girls did it again.”

White said two tactical changes at halftime were key – Amber Bellringer on as goal shoot and Jenna O’Sullivan on at goal keep.

“Things were going OK, but we needed to mix it up a little. We made a couple of tactical changes, we felt they had too much control at both ends. The good thing is we were patient, the girls knew things would come right,” she said.

“There was a little bit of untidy stuff but the girls reacted to it and play flowed nicely in the third quarter, with our feeding into the shooters outstanding.”

Inglewood co-captain Heidi Smith was rapt with the win.

“Absolutely stoked. It was really, really good. It was hard work, we probably made it a little hard for ourselves. They made us work hard,” she said. “We were probably under pressure in the first half. We put ourselves under pressure, then let the ball go and relaxed a bit and got into the game as we know we could. We knew we could come back and we knew we just had to start building.”

As for a three-peat?

“Definitely. You have to go for three in a row.”

Twelve months ago, Raukura lost by 17 goals in the final – 51-34. This year the margin was 14, not that it mattered.

“Inglewood were just too classy, they’ve got no real weaknesses,” Raukura coach Che Tamati said later.

“The third quarter, that was a killer. The girls didn’t let it get to them and kept on battling. Unfortunately, they’re a great team and we couldn’t keep up with them.”

Tamati said he was proud of the way his team had played this season.

“We were predicted to finish fourth. Hats off to the girls, they fought hard to make the final. We had them panicking for a bit, but we just got pinged throughout the game.”

Inglewood had a relatively quiet start to the final by their standards going to the first break with a 12-8 buffer thanks to four late goals.

Raukura made three changes and the introduction of Aroha Kingi at wing attack had an immediate impact on the game. Her experience and quick hands rattled Inglewood and it was Raukura who dominated with a 10-4 run to lead 18-16.

But again, Inglewood settled into their work with three late goals to lead 23-20 at halftime.

They say the third quarter in netball is the championship quarter and it was last night.

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Inglewood was going along nicely at 9-7 for the quarter, before Bellringer upped the ante. She knocked in seven straight to give her side a commanding 39-27 lead and that was the ball game.

For the record, Inglewood took the final quarter 13-11, but the damage had already been done.

Credit: MURRAY HILLS

While the final scoreline indicated a comfortable win for the Bears, it was anything but, with the crowd – estimated to be more than 1000 – treated to some enterprising play from both sides.

The Hawks stung the Bears early with a slick try by fullback Ricky Gardner, who stepped his way through the defence.

Twice the Bears went close and it was no surprise when hooker Tipene Welch scored midway through the half, with the conversion giving the Bears the lead.

Another converted try soon after, this time scored by standoff Tyson Lewis, extended the lead to 12-4 with the home fans already starting to celebrate.

But in a stunning eight-minute period before the break, the Hawks swooped.

Three converted tries gave the visitors a 22-12 halftime cushion.

It was fullback Gardner who set things alight, angling back against the tide to leave the Bears’ defence in tatters to score under the posts. Then it was winger Tahi Davis who finished off a sweeping attack launched from deep inside their own territory.

The third try went to big sub Duane Boylan, who bumped off one defender, then dragged two with him over the line.

All three tries were converted from close range by Jamie Close-Adams.

If the Hawks thought they had the title in the bag, they were wrong.

The Bears exploded in the opening minutes of the second half.

Two quick converted tries saw the home side regain the lead 24-22.

The first, a length-of-the-field effort, was scored by prop Johnroy Kemp.

The second was by their backline general Cruz Rauner.

A fortuitous try to Davis in the corner after he looked to have lost the ball over the line, gave the Hawks’ supporters some hope, but that was shortlived when Bears sub Hamiora McLeod burrowed his way over for a try near the posts.

Big Bears prop Laquail Neilsen pushed the lead out to 36-26 when he crashed over near the posts with 10 minutes remaining.

Then centre Andre Olsson sealed the win after a blistering burst down the left flank following a bust by second rower Anisi O’Carroll-Leota. All seven Waitara tries were converted by Chance Teuira who kicked seven from seven, including a difficult final kick into a strong cross-wind from wide out.

There were plenty of standouts for the Bears.

Rauner controlled play superbly, with his eye for the gap key to sparking many attacks, while Olsson and fullback Tosh Clark both showed out on attack.

Welch, Kemp, O’Carroll-Leota and loose forward Henare O’Carroll hit the ball up strongly for the Bears, with Neilsen much more involved in the second half.

The Hawks had a number of willing workers in the pack with brothers Wirimu and Tyson Hori-Brown, along with cousin Damien Hori, all hard to stop with the ball in hand.

Hawera’s man-of-the-match was winger Delaine Mihaere.

He gave the Bears plenty of headaches on attack and his defence was outstanding.

Gardner also impressed on attack and under the high ball in the swirling wind.

WAITARA BEARS 42 (Tipene Welch, Tyson Lewis, Johnroy Kemp, Cruz Rauner, Lequail Neilsen, Hamiora McLeod, Andre Olsson tries; Chance Teuira 7 cons)

HAWERA HAWKS 26 (Ricky Gardner 2, Tahi Davis 2, Duane Boylan tries; Jamie Close-Adams 3 cons). Halftime: Hawks 22-12.

CREDIT: MURRAY HILLS

The 19-year-old former Gisborne Boys’ High School star scored a try, kicked four conversions and three penalties for a personal haul of 22 points at the Camp Reserve as Clifton won 42-27.

His performance was about a lot more than just points, however.

The former New Zealand schools rep got his side into prime field positions, orchestrated his backline with authority, defended strongly and was responsible for the turning point of the game when he cleverly read an Inglewood attacking pass, intercepted and scampered 80 metres to score.

Having missed the opening round with a shoulder injury, the Taranaki Rugby Academy member was as influential as coach Ian Snook had hoped for, not that he was prepared to say much about his new recruit.

“I’m not saying anything good about him but you can write it,” Snook said after the match.

Intercept tries are often game changers and Waaka’s 35th minute effort was no exception.

Up until then the Inglewood supporters would have been happy with what they saw.

Their side was stretching the opposition without doing anything spectacular and it seemed only a matter of time before they broke the 6-all deadlock.

Waaka’s effort had a stunning impact, though, as Clifton lifted, got on the front foot, earned a penalty right on halftime and came back from the break eager to throw the ball around, attack the breakdown and start scoring some points.

Tries to prop Zane Neal, Nemia Soqeta and Tana Blackburn saw the score blow out to 35-6.

It would have been a lot worse, too, had Avon Lewis not come off the bench for Inglewood to score a double and bring some respectability to the situation.

“We were a bit hesitant to start,” Snook said. “We had to build into it but they played really well after halftime. They lifted up after halftime, held on to the ball and showed they really wanted it.”

Snook was impressed with the leadership of some of his “older players”, which had allowed him and assistant coach Paul Martin to take a back seat in what was an important occasion for the club as they returned to the reserve for the first time in 19 years.

One of those “older players” must be Soqeta, who has the ability to lift his side through inflicting damage to the opposition, whether it is a rattling tackle or a barnstorming run. Sure, he makes a few errors but any player would rather have him in their side than in the opposition.

While Waaka was impressive, he got great service from halfback Hamuera Baker, while Matt White was also good in a hard-working pack.

Inglewood’s best by some distance was flanker Berny Hall, while fellow loose forward Mitch Brown had some good moments.

Elsewhere, defending champions Coastal bounced back from their opening round loss to beat Stratford 20-7 at Stratford.

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The game was in the balance late in the second half when Stratford reserve hooker Evan Dickson was denied a try, because of a double movement, although many thought he was hard done by.

Stratford coach Chris Drummond was not using it as an excuse, however, saying his side made too many mistakes and failed to take their chances.

He was impressed with the work of No 8 Todd Curtis and centre Zac Taitoko.

Coastal coach Joe Lawn was reasonably happy with the progress of his side from the previous week and their defence. He singled out wing John Julian for his performance.

New Plymouth Old Boys showed Southern they have plenty of work to do to reach their level after a convincing 27-3 win at Vogeltown Park.

Old Boys attacked well in the first half to open up a 20-3 lead at the break and defended with authority in the second half to stop the visitors scoring as Southern dominated possession.

Old Boys coach Tony Earl was impressed with the workload of lock Richard Beckett, while second five-eighth Ross Allan made a number of telling line breaks.

Southern coach Willie Rickards was less frustrated at the loss than he was with his side’s win over Clifton last week.

He believes the signs were positive, their structure was good and they created opportunities; they just have to be more clinical in their play, especially their finishing. Greg Rowlands impressed at first five-eighth, as did lock Jon Smyth.

Tukapa joined Old Boys as the only other unbeaten team following a scrappy 14-6 win over Spotswood United at Yarrow Stadium. New Tukapa No 8 Mitchell Croswell impressed again in a side that made plenty of mistakes to keep Spotswood United in the game.

Spotswood United coach Michael Collins said his side defended a lot better than they had the previous week but struggled to build phases.

Another No 8, Iopu Iopu, showed plenty of class in his debut.

AT A GLANCE

Clifton 42 Inglewood 27

NPOB 27 Southern 3

Coastal 20 Stratford 7

Tukapa 14 Spotswood Utd 6

Credit: GLENN MCLEAN

The Tigers were purring along nicely in the opening 10 minutes, racing to a 14-6 lead over New Plymouth’s Sacred Heart Girls’ College in the early game at the TSB Stadium last night.

The eight-goal start was always going to be a bridge too far for the school side even though it scored the next five goals to close to 14-11 at the end of the quarter. Suburbs maintained the pressure, taking the next two quarters by three goals to lead by nine going into the fourth.

It was there that the school side produced its best netball, threatening to storm back and claim an unlikely victory. The quarter went Sacred Heart’s way 15-9, but the spoils and a shot at promotion to premier one went to Suburbs.

Suburbs will now play Waitara High School in a promotion-relegation match on Thursday, September 1.

It was a strange match, because for three quarters the sides looked evenly matched. It was just the first quarter that cost the school side.

Whether they were stage struck or just plain nervous, they were outgunned. Their passing was slow and shooting poor, with Suburbs having plenty of time to organise their defence. But the way Sacred Heart finished gave them hope for next week’s lower North Island secondary schools championships in Wellington.

“Ecstatic. I’m so proud of the girls tonight,” Suburbs coach Karl Albert said. “The first 10 minutes were key. If we start slow, we end up chasing and put pressure on ourselves. But we settled well and … it put the pressure on them.”

Albert said the focus had been scoring off their own centre passes. “We did that and were able to break their centre pass. The girls definitely came to play tonight,” he said. “But even when we were eight goals up, I knew we couldn’t relax. That sort of buffer can easily disappear. Sacred Heart are a fit team and I knew they would come back and play right to the end.”

Albert singled out two of his players for special mention – shooter April Thompson and centre Stephanie Herbert.

“They both stepped up as leaders and controlled play for us.”

Sacred Heart coach Tracey Wales said playing in a final was a new experience for her team.

“They were a little bit nervous and it took some time for them to find their rhythm,” she said. “Suburbs played a great game … smart, mature netball … they were the better team on the night.”

Wales said she was happy with the way her team had finished.

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“If only we’d had another five minutes. It’s just so disappointing the way we started. It just wasn’t to be.”

CREDIT: MURRAY HILLS

Ms Manu will gain international exposure during the major event, as the designer of team Papua New Guinea’s formal and teamwear.

The New Plymouth woman, who runs Tura Sports, was invited to tender for the contract and said it was an amazing opportunity to land the job.

“We’re such a new label, so to be able to get the exposure on the world stage is just awesome. It’s funny. One of my goals was to get an Olympic or Commonwealth team and we’ve achieved that goal a lot quicker than anticipated.”

Tura Sports falls under the umbrella of Total Uniform Solutions and has only been running for about 18 months, said Ms Manu.

As a former designer for Kooga, who kit out the likes of NRL teams Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights, Ms Manu said it was her rugby league connections which helped her land the contract.

“I first went over to Papua New Guinea and did all the merchandising for their NRL bid the year before last. The support has grown from there really,” she said.

The Team PNG range is titled Those Who Fly, said Ms Manu, with its main feature being a star motif.

“That’s a significant symbol within the PNG culture and it sort of just acknowledges the level that these athletes have to achieve at.”

Ms Manu said the PNG organisation was immediately impressed with her original designs and felt her strength was incorporating a story into the designs.

“The main thing is understanding that teams want to feel that mana when they perform. They want to perform in something that means something to them.

“That’s a big part of what we do. We understand the importance of New Zealand culture and they have that same type of thing over there.”

Although PNG has a team of just eight athletes, Ms Manu has designed a total of 22 garments for 60 people, who include coaching and management staff.

The former Gold Coast resident said she was looking forward to kicking her feet up on Saturday to watch her designs on the world stage. “I’m looking forward to having a wine and watching the opening ceremony,” she said.

Credits: HANNAH FLEMING