Photo courtesy of Tania Newman, Northern Advocate

The competition tightened up in round four of the RLN Premiership.  Both early front runners, the Moerewa Tigers and Hikurangi Stags were pushed to the final minutes to take their respective matches this week.

The Tigers remain unbeaten with a thrilling 36 – 30 victory over an under-strength Muirwhenua Kuaka.  The Kuaka, who only had 14 players for the entire match, displayed immense courage and character, standing toe to toe with the Tigers and led for a long period of the match.  It wasn’t until the 75^th minute that the Tigers secured the win.

The young gun Panthers, with a number of 2012’s Championship 17’s and Whangerei Boys High School Adam Blair Champions, put on a positive display of fast energetic Rugby League to let the Stags know that it’s not going to be all easy sailing.  It took the class of Hikurangi’s young flyer, Joachim Edmonds, to snatch victory from the youth of Portland Panthers.

The previously winless Otaua Valleys secured their first win in another thrilling encounter 32 – 26 against another young team in the Kerikeri Slayers.  The Slayers inexperience cost them the match at crucial times.  The Northern Wairoa Bulls beat City Knights in another close encounter 24 – 22.  In the final match of the round Takahiwai Warriors remain unbeaten with a resounding 62 – 18 win over the Horahora Broncos.

This week in the RLN Premiership will be the final local round before the North/South cross-over rounds.  The match of the round will be between unbeaten Takakiwai Warriors against the high flying Hikurangi Stags.  The other match to watch out for will be Kerikeri hosting the Hokianga Pioneers at the Kerikeri Domain.  Kerikeri will be looking for their first win against arch rivals, the Pioneers.

The photo in this article is courtesy of Tania Newman, Northern Advocate.  Click here for the full news story by Peter Thorley

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