Northland Club Rugby 2019
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The tables only have the wins losses since it split into pools. points carried over from first round.
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@muddyriver ah thats cool, was hoping it wasnt down to some arbitrary points deductions or something as can be the case...seems alot of inconsistency about how and when they apply these sorts of things, at all levels.
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Semi-finals this weekend:
Prems:
Waipu vs Wellsford
OBM vs Kamo
Reserves:
Waipu vs Kamo
Hora Hora vs KerikeriHavent seen any of Wellsford this season, being part of Kamo I watch them mostly, but have seen them playing OBM, Waipu, Sharks, Otamatea, but good to see them in the top 4 after struggling early in the season, should be a cracker of a game.
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Championship Semis
North Zone:
Moerewa/UK v Eastern
Awanui v KaikoheSouth Zone:
Mid Western v Tomarata
Southern v MangakahiaThe winner of both North and South Zones have the opportunity to play for promotion against Otamatea or Mid Northern. From what I’ve been hearing 4 or 5 of the above semi finalists would have a crack at it if they win.
There is also a bit of chat around about more possible club mergers or alliances ala Old Boys/Marist, Sharks/Kaihu/Ruawai.
It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
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@Gunner fropm what I have seen of Otamatea, they are probably in most danger of relegation.
What other clubs you heard that about? You talking teams in the North/South Zone comps (Tomorata/Otamatea, possibly include Wellsford?)
Kamo had thier club day last week, wasnt the best of days weatherwise, but was well attended so hopefully they made some dollars.
It is a worry.
I am not sure how many teams they will have for U16 next season (have heard rumours NRU will be trying to push school teams again, but unsure this will work unless WBHS is to return to the Whangarei/Northland 1st 15 comp as well)
In the U14 grade there are 8 teams this year, but there is the top 4 clear ahead, 1 team on its own in 5th (beating teams 6/7/8) 2 teams in 6/7 (both beating 8 and drawing with each other) and then the team in 8th which I believe have conceded under 50 1 time this season and had over 100 3 times.
My guess is most of those ones wont be moving upto U16 next year, nor many of the 6/7th teams as many of them will be eligible to stay in U14s (by age/weight restrictions)
Is very worrying.
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@taniwharugby I have always thought Rugby clubs should merge with other sports codes in their area to form Sports Clubs - netball, touch rugby for summer. Possibly competitor codes such as soccer and hockey. Or even tennis and squash.
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@kev yeah a few clubs are multi code facilities e.g Kamo and Mid Western are rugby/squash, am sure there are others...Kamo run summer touch modules, there is a soccer, bowling and tennis clubs that are all skirting the Kamo Rec, but they are run separately. The Tennis club in the midst of building clubrooms too
Plenty of the rural clubs are struggling for other reasons, one being that the money over the bar used to be much higher as well as making the club a community hub, and the change in drink driving culture (for the majority) has impacted many of them...some are proactive in providing courtesy vans.
Is an issue across most sports though, golf is another I know is struggling as well, Kaikohe & Wellsford both have squash facilities too, am sure plenty of others have both.
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I don’t pretend to have all the answers but I think clubs need evolve and think outside the box, and as TR mentioned, become a hub for their community to keep themselves relevant.
On the field, Mid Western was obviously relegated to the championship 2 years ago, but the club is very healthy and thriving. We’ve focused on going back to the basics by trying to engage our community and offering something more than just being a rugby/squash club.
It’s not rocket science, you get the foundations right, get bunch of people paddling in the same direction and success will come.
There are some so called professional sports organisations in this country that might find that advice quite useful.
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I havent seen the OBM side yet, but Kamo naming largely unchanged lineup they have for last few weeks, with Cam Goodhue packing down on the side as player/coach again
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@taniwharugby no Rueben Wright, I hear he’s having another enforced mid season rugby holiday...
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Interesting lineup Kamo is putting out, I see a couple of others that are missing,Nikau Graham,Tamati Tua and still no Kane Jacobson which has got to be a concern for his Northland inclusion
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@Steven-Harris Jacobson hasn't played all season so I don't expect we will see him, Hohaia been at 10 last few weeks.
Not sure on Tua either, although he hasn't played much even when I thought he was fit.
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OBM beat Kamo 34-12
After a very tight first half, where despite Kamo having a slight edge, trailed OBM by 7-5.
But some very poor comms between the Kamo wing-FB saw OBM hit straight after the break, and then peppered the gap between the Wing and FB for the rest of the game...within 10 mins of the halftime break, game all but done with OBM out to 26-5.
Kamo hit back with about 10 to go to give a glimmer of hope when Tua picked up an intercept, but OBM hit back and again and Hawkins put the final nail in with a penalty inside the last couple of mins.
Kamo forwards looked the better in the 1st spell, OBM looked shagged, but halftime came at right time and got thier second wind to put Kamo away.
Dan HAwkins controlled things well for OBM, even put in a couple of long touchfinders with a breeze at his back.
Matt JOhnson was tidy at 13, Rae didnt get alot of ball at FB, but the touches he got were class, on defence too.
Stokes was his aggressive self, although looked to have a bit of a calf injury that he went off for.
OBM 9 controlled the game in the 2nd spell, kicking to the right space where Kamo struggled to cover with Murray and O'Grady letting too many balls go to ground.
Berridge and Goodhue tried hard for Kamo, Hohaia went ok at 10, lacks a kicking game but obviously runs ok.
Sykes was excellent in the 1st spell, but alot quieter in the 2nd, as was Kamo.
Tua went ok in his time on the park, unsure why he doesnt start (assume a combination thing?) looks very solid and quick.
Waipu smoked Wellsford 57-7
So will be Waipu - OBM in the final next weekend, Waipu reserves snuck past Kamo and will meet Hora Hora in the final after they smashed Kerikeri
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IN the Championship final at Okara today, Mid Western out lasted Mangakahia 38-30 @Gunner even getting about 20 mins for his team!
Waipu did the double knocking off Hora Hora in the reserve final and then the Prems taking the chocolates 34-20 over OBM.
For Waipu Waiseguy Fiane was one of thier best as he controlled the game and pushed them round the park, nabbing a nice little chip and chase try.
Thought Kurt Davies (unsure if still the same Kurt Davies that played 9 for Northland a few years back) was bloody good at 12 for Waipu, probably the best mid-fielder on show today, with none of the others really showing out (or more just shutting one another down?)
Scrum contests were pretty even for most of the match, but late in the game when OBM had subbed off Wiggins (looked like they had a prop and 2 hookers in thier front row at that point too) Waipu smashed them a couple of times, earnign a penalty, which they scrummed again and a phase or 2 later was Waiseguys try.
Hawkins struggled to get his backline going, his handling wasnt great either.
Leilua was a threat at FB for waipu, while his opposite, Rae was again solid and always a threat.
OBM 7 Byrne is an energiser bunny, what he lacks in size he makes up for in ticker, similarly Waipus McNamara was busy.
Waipu didnt give Stokes the room to run today, and while he was still into everything and all agression, just didnt have as much room and was stuck in the tight.
Mayanavanua is a bloody unit!! Gets about the park too!
Waipus 9, Abraham looked handy too, while his 11 Jona Tuitoga looks more like a prop than a wing, certainly has something about him!
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@taniwharugby thanks for the match report, congratulations to Waipu especially after being the bridesmaid in 2018..
It’s been a long time between drinks for the south Whangarei township not 100% sure but I suspect this could be their first title, but I stand to be corrected.
Absolutely rapt for coach Graham Dewes the former Fijian international prop, its a day he probably won’t forget given Fijis first ever win over the NZ Maori in Suva today..Just from an observers piece,I am starting to wonder if Dan Hawkins was such a good signing ..really and truthfully he should be dominant force at this level and to hear he was outplayed by the unwanted Wiseguy Faiane is rather disturbing.
Just on Jona Tuitoga ,he’s a bit of a veteran these days having played a few seasons in the North Harbour and has represented Harbour at 15s and sevens .
Rapt to hear young Jared Byrnes going so well, just needs a bit more size added to his frame, but one thing you can’t fault..the boy has workrate and ticker..It’s a little crazy to think former Northland halfback Kurt Davies has remodelled himself as a 2nd five,be interesting to see how he goes in the development squad.
Great to hear new signings Pisi Leilua and Jonty Rae had good games, that’s an expectation as far as I am concerned..
Just a couple of questions on a coupe of other Northland squad members..how did Temo Mayanavanua who I know is a big lad do around the paddock ..also Sam Caird ..? -
Temo is busy, could do a bit more though, can see the range of skills just waiting to surface.
Caird gets through the work too but just not sure he has enough meat on that big frame to be effective at the next level (hope I am proven wrong) excellent lineout option though, they probably had the better of the Waipu lineout
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@taniwharugby Just great to see Waipu doing so well. 😀
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@kev yes it is good and I believe @Steven-Harris was correct in that this was Waipu's first title.
@Steven-Harris tbf on Hawkins, he did play pretty well last week in the semi, but then I have never really been a fan so not the best person to be talking about him being a good signing or not.
He is someone who will give 100% every week and is as brave as they come on defence, but IMO his ceiling is just a solid 6/10 at M10 Cup level.
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