Rugby: Hard to pick between top two

Mid Northern attack the line through hooker Jordan Olsen in their 24-20 semifinal win over Waipu in the Bayleys Southern Districts' Premier competition. They take on Old Boys Marist in the final at Toll Stadium. Photo / Peter Nicholson

The stage is set for the two best teams in Northland club rugby.

Old Boys Marist and Mid Northern will clash in the final of the Bayleys Southern Districts' Premier competition tomorrow.

Both sides managed wins in their semifinals: Mid Northern outlasted Waipu 24-20 while OBM beat defending champions Wellsford.

And both teams are getting ready for the biggest game of the season.

Mid Northern coach Craig Edwards said they had been gearing up well for the final.

"Preparations have been good, apart from the weather. Hopefully, conditions are good for Saturday," he said. "We've been working on sticking to the basics and building pressure. We've been working hard on set-pieces. Defence will win us the game, while discipline could lose it for us."

On the other side, OBM coach Greg Shipton said they had been doing what they always do.

"Our preparations have been no different to any other week. The boys are really digging in," he said. "We've been going over our patterns and skill set. Nothing has changed for us all season."

The final will be the third time these two sides have met this season.

OBM drew first blood with a 25-10 win in round two, but Mid Northern squared the ledger with a 31-20 win in round 11 during their 12-game winning streak.

Both sides have impressed offensively and defensively, ranking highly in both categories.

Mid Northern were always a major threat on attack, scoring a competition-leading 605 points (33.6 points per game).

But OBM were the staunchest of all defences, conceding just over 13 points per contest during the regular season.

Edwards has put the onus on his side to put together a convincing effort.

"We have strengths all over the park, but it's up to them to give a great performance out there," he said.

OBM and Mid Northern have been rewarded for their fine seasons with 13 selections for the Northland Mitre 10 Cup sqaud.

Both teams have uncompromising front-rows, incisive halfback/first-five combinations and game-breaking outside backs.

The battle of halfbacks Matty Marwick (OBM) and Malcolm McLeod (Mid Northern) could be the best battle inside the final.

Shipton said: "There will be 44 quality players out on the park, so hopefully it should be a great game.

"We rate them (Mid Northern) highly, and we want to replicate their successes."

The game kicks off at 3pm at Toll Stadium.

Entry costs $5.

Last five games:

* Mid Northern 31 OBM 20
* OBM 25 Mid Northern 10
* Mid Northern 20 OBM 8
* OBM 16 Mid Northern 5
* Mid Northern 36 OBM 15