Club Rugby 2016

Crucial

The problem is starting to take hold all over the country but sadly probably won't get attention until it hits the big clubs.
I actually think that the issue is more to do with the identification and fast tracking of young players almost straight from school to Provincial (and sometimes Super) squads.
Club Rugby is fast becoming the place for those that don't make the big time. Many academy types play about one season of club at most.
Otago/ Southland are struggling to create worthwhile Prem comps and may look at merging.
The next level down ( a subbies type level) is still strong as club players like the more social aspect but getting guys to commit to training and the higher demands is getting harder each year when there is little chance that if they haven't already been shoulder tapped for higher honours they are at the back of the queue.

FarNthHayden

Hey all apologies for being a bit absent, 
Round 7 results 
Kamo 14 a 43 Mid Northern 
Mid Western 25-7 Wellsford 
Otamatea 37-36 Hikurangi 
Waipu 53-32 Horahora 
Western Sharks 15-35 OBM 
Round 8 Results 
Hikurangi 19-50 Mid Western 
Horahora 5- 70 Mid Northern 
Kamo 0-95 OBM 
Waipu 46-7 Wellsford 
Western Sharks 28-29 Otamatea

FarNthHayden

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JacNath" data-cid="578112" data-time="1462724906">Whats happening to our club rugby, some big blow-outs on the weekend(7/5/16), was the Duck Hunting season to tempting for some? or are we that short of depth through out the clubs that one or two players can determine weather we win by 10 or loose by 50. For teams like Waipu and Otamatea their is no better chance than right now to capitalize on weakened teams and accumulate easy points to keep them in the top 4.</blockquote>
 
Duck hunting season is the least of my clubs worries, on Saturday we had 9 premier players out, 8 injured, 1 suspended. The players that were asked to step up simply up to prem level of rugby. 
This year Horahoras avoiding going down the path of recruiting players from outside the region, but there simply isn't the same amount of young players coming through that there has been in the past.

Nath Jac

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="FarNthHayden" data-cid="578373" data-time="1462787661">
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Duck hunting season is the least of my clubs worries, on Saturday we had 9 premier players out, 8 injured, 1 suspended. The players that were asked to step up simply up to prem level of rugby. 
This year Horahoras avoiding going down the path of recruiting players from outside the region, but there simply isn't the same amount of young players coming through that there has been in the past.
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That is great that Hora Hora is trying to avoid bring in players from out side the region, Dean and I tried our best to promote the local talent over the last 3 years and although its hard I feel that you are able to see more progress in development. I hope that your players return soon as we know what Hora Hora is capable of after beating OBM this year.

taniwharugby

I don't mind players coming in form outside, but only if it is not at the expense of a local guy, which I guess is always the case, but I mean if they are of equal ability. Not too many would mind if the player bought in is vastly superior as it will help all round.
 
I feel the NRU have done a good job with their selecting local policy, but is this been a driver for players outside coming up here for a crack via club rugby?
 
Is a catch 22 really, not something that is easily fixed, and you hear similar stories form other unions too.

Nath Jac

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="578705" data-time="1462932271">
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I don't mind players coming in form outside, but only if it is not at the expense of a local guy, which I guess is always the case, but I mean if they are of equal ability. Not too many would mind if the player bought in is vastly superior as it will help all round.
 
I feel the NRU have done a good job with their selecting local policy, but is this been a driver for players outside coming up here for a crack via club rugby?
 
Is a catch 22 really, not something that is easily fixed, and you hear similar stories form other unions too.
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totally agree mate, I hear the moans and groans from locals at times about players brought from the out side, yet these are the same people that wont turn up to training. I have seen coaches at times just get a team together that wants to train 2 days a week and I suppose try and eliminate the worry of having a team on saturday or not.
I have wondered the last few years if it was worth playing the premier game first then the reserves 2nd. this would allow for the premier team to have a full fresh team and if any teams are short then they can back up for the reserves. it may help on the long trips. looking forward to the MN-Waipu game this weekend to see if waipu can challenge.

taniwharugby

I was up in Kerikeri a fortnight ago, and had heard Kawakawa were on the verge of defaulting at 10am when a couple of guys they hadnt seen for a couple of weeks rocked up ready for a trip upto Kerikeri for the game...

FarNthHayden

Round 9 fixtures 
Hikurangi v Sharks 
Mid Northern v Waipu 
OBM v Mid Western 
Otamatea v Horahora 
Wellsford v Kamo

FarNthHayden

Bayleys club rugby results 
Southern Districts Premier: 
Western Sharks. 32 Hikurangi. 17 
Mid Northern 51 Waipu. 19 
Old Boys Marist. 76 Mid Western. 7 
Kamo 22 Wellsford 17 
Otamatea 34 v Horahora 29 
Reserves: 
Western Sharks. 30 Hikurangi. 20 
Mid Northern 26 Waipu. 12 
Old Boys Marist. 57 Mid Western. 10 
Horahora 41 v Otamatea 28 
Bay of Islands: 
Kerikeri 70. Otiria 0 
United Kawakawa 43. Okaihau 17 
Moerewa. 91 Kaikohe. 7 
Ohaeawai. 22 Kaeo. 20

FarNthHayden

Point table after the end of the first round 
OBM 41 
Mid Northern 40 
Otamatea 27 
Waipu 26 
Wellsford 22 
Mid Western 21 
Sharks 19 
Kamo 18 
HoraHora 16 
Hikurangi 13

FarNthHayden

Round 10 fixtures 
Hora Hora v Sharks 
Kamo v Hikurangi 
Mid Northern v Wellsford 
Mid Western v Otamatea 
Waipu vOBM

taniwharugby

Kamo beat Hika 38-14

taniwharugby

Premier: Mid Northern 13 beat Wellsford 10 Mid Western 16 beat Otamatea 10 OBM 41 beat Waipu 11 Western Sharks 20 beat Hora Hora 15 
Kamo 38 beat Hikurangi 14 

Premier Reserves 
Mid Northern 27 beat Wellsford 17 
Otamatea 20 beat Mid Western 7 
OBM 32 beat Waipu 26 
Hora Hora 20 beat Western Sharks 19 
Kamo 29 beat Hikurangi 17 

Bay of Islands: 
Kerikeri 17 beat Ohaeawai 12 
Kaeo 20 beat Otiria 10 
Moerewa 41 beat United Kawakawa 0 
Kaikohe 36 beat Okaihau 13 

Mangonui: 
Kaitaia 43 beat Panguru 22 
Te Rarawa 36 beat Aupouri/Ngati Kuri 0 
Eastern 63 beat South Hokianga 14 
Awanui had a bye

Nath Jac

Hi all, went and watched Old Boys v Waipu on the weekend. I must say that it was refreshing to see Old Boys play good structured wet weather rugby. Great ball control and a simple game plan that just wore Waipu down. The part of their game that I was really impressed with was the level of communication that they were able to maintain through out the whole match, it looked like every member of the OBM team new their role and trusted their mate beside them. Will it be enough to win a final, thats another story but they sure are on the right track. another great game of rugby for the reserves with OBM's experience shining through. apart from Mid Northern all the other teams are going to need to start respecting the ball if they are going to have any chance against these two teams. Just playing expansive rugby wont cut it.

taniwharugby

I watched the Kamo-Hika game.
 
Weather conditions ensured there were lots of errors, but was some tough defence and was still some good play in patches.
 
The plight of Hika is highlighted by the fact Eddie Vercoe looks to have come out of retirement to sit on the bench for them, I expect he does so very reluctantly and I know Aaron Wright (who did start the season but picked up a broken wrist?) can barely watch them play.
 
Hika have a promising young fulla down from Kaitaia who is living in one of the Academy Houses, Tama Tua who is about 6'3 and plays in the mid-field, looks a good prospect, although didnt get many chances in a Hika side that was always on the back foot, plaued Northland U18 last year and apparently close to the main squad this year. Didnt really see too many stand out for Hika TBH.
 
best player was the big centre (or 12?) for Kamo, Sykes looked sharp in patches, danny Mason also, as was Rueben Wright, although I understand he is just back off a break following too many yellows and picked up another yesterday for a swinging arm/punch.

FarNthHayden

Round 11 
Premier: 
Hikurangi. 21 Waipu. 27 
OBM. 20 Mid Northern. 29 
Otamatea. 31 Kamo. 29 
Wellsford. 37 HoraHora 12 
Western Sharks. 62 MidWestern. 0 
Reserves: 
Hikurangi. 22 Waipu. 47 
OBM. 31. Mid Northern 0 
Otamatea. 19 Kamo. 55 
Wellsford. 17 HoraHora 17 
Western Sharks. 62. MidWestern. 0 
Bay of Islands 
United Kawakawa 55 Kaikohe 37 
Kerikeri. 26 Kaeo. 12 
Ohaeawai 56 Otiria 20 
Moerewa 86 Okaihau 0 
Mangonui: 
Eastern. 23. Awanui. 22 
Kaitaia 52 Sth Hokianga 0 
Panguru. Te Rarawa

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="FarNthHayden" data-cid="583476" data-time="1464417615">
Round 11 
Premier: 
Hikurangi. 21 Waipu. 27 
OBM. 20 Mid Northern. 29 
Otamatea. 31 Kamo. 29 
Wellsford. 37 HoraHora 12 
Western Sharks. 62 MidWestern. 0 
Reserves: 
Hikurangi. 22 Waipu. 47 
OBM. 31. Mid Northern 0 
Otamatea. 19 Kamo. 55 
Wellsford. 17 HoraHora 17 
Western Sharks. 62. MidWestern. 0 
Bay of Islands 
United Kawakawa 55 Kaikohe 37 
Kerikeri. 26 Kaeo. 12 
Ohaeawai 56 Otiria 20 
Moerewa 86 Okaihau 0 
Mangonui: 
Eastern. 23. Awanui. 22 
Kaitaia 52 Sth Hokianga 0 
Panguru. Te Rarawa</blockquote>Premier: Sharks 51 MW 36 is a lot closer to the mark than was advertised...

Chiefy

The big upset of that round is the Awanui v Eastern result

FarNthHayden

Round 12 fixtures 
Mid Northern v Hikurangi 
HoraHora v Mid Western 
Kamo v Sharks 
Waipu v Otamatea 
Wellsford v OBM

taniwharugby

watched Kamo-Sharks.
 
Awesome day, still, a bit soft under foot but some pretty good rugby with Sharks taking it 43-36.
 
Kamo lead just before half time 27-7, but a score right on half time, ignited by a Matich break (assume it was Matich) put the Sharks right back in it. Kamo hung tough for most of the half, lead swapped a couple of times but the SHarks just kept coming at them.
 
Thought the game was pretty well reffed, played at a decent tempo with some solid defence, despite the high score.
 
First half, Matich (again, assuming it was him) playing 8 seemed to spend most of his time in the back line, but jeez he has a good turn of pace! 2nd spell he was closer to the ball and his other forwards and was much more involved, which was a big factor with his pace and power.
 
Kamo have a pretty solid pack, Danny mason was into everything, good support from Reuben Wright, but they didnt quite have the spark they needed. Kamo 10 has a very good boot, knocked over a 50m penalty when the scores were locked up 30-30, the Kamo 12 runs hard and straight and rarely passed the ball so while being a decent sized lad with a bit of pace, was very easy to defend and blew a few opportunities to make some good metres with ball in hand when his outsides had space.
 
Sharks have a HUGE Fijian winger, looks to have a bit of pace, didnt get to see a huge amount of him to see his skills.
 
Game was there for Kamo to win, but some crucial errors by Kamo at the wrong moments gave so much back to the Sharks who took every opportunity that was presented

The Silver Fern

Club Rugby 2016