It’s Business Time!
Can you smell the excitement in the air? It’s finals fever!!
One thing that always entertains us is how excited players and coaches and supporters get about finals! It doesn’t matter what age or grade the player is – Finals are Finals – and they are something to get excited about. Over the course of a player’s career, some can only dream of playing in a final, let alone the chance to win!
Rugby League Northland would like to congratulate the Moerewa Tigers for winning the Minor Premiership – the Tigers have been the form team all year, and will have this first week off from the playoffs. Takahiwai Warriors, in 2nd place, have also earned the week off. The Premiership has been a tight encounter with only 5 points separating 1st and 5th place.
This Saturday (27th July) is the first week of the RLN Premiership Finals with the Semi-Final Qualifiers being played at Lindvart Park in Kaikohe. A big thank you to Mike Edmonds and the Kaikohe Rugby Club for allowing us to use the Rugby Grounds. It’s a fanstastic playing surface with a great grass roots atmosphere! Make sure that if you get a chance, that you come to Kaikohe to watch the Semi’s as we have two cracker jack games lined up.
At 1.00pm, we kick off with last years Champions the Hikurangi Stags v Northern Wairoa Bulls. Both teams have struggled to find form in the last round of the Premiership. A month ago the Bulls defeated the Stags in a thrilling 24 – 18 victory to gain top place in the Premiership. Since then, the Bulls have won only one game finishing the season in 5th place. The Stags will be wanting to continue the Bulls poor form and set up a replay of the 2012 Grand Final in next week’s Semi-Final at Toll Stadium against the Tigers.
Then at 3.00pm, the Hokianga Pioneers are up against the City Knights. The Pioneers have been Mr Consistent throughout 2013 and ended the season in 3rd place. The Knights have been the steady improvers throughout the season. Alex Smits (RLN’s GM) refereed them in the 1st and last round of the season and what a difference! They went from a disorganised ramble, to a finely tuned attacking machine!! Well done to the City club for the turn around in form and culture!! During the cross over rounds the Pioneers defeated City 36 – 28 at City’s home ground.
Both games will be hard to predict…as in all Finals games, expect the unexpected! If you love live sport get to Lindvart Park this week!
On another note the 13s, 15s and 18s Semi-Finals will be played next weekend (4th August). All the Finals are scheduled for the 11th of August at Toll Stadium.
Also wishing our 5 boys the best of luck with their Kiwi trials in Rotorua this week.
See attachment for details of dates and times of all finals games – Finals Fever
