Dalefield still have high hopes of making semi-finals

Dalefield coach Laurie Juno hasn't given away the idea of his side making the semi-finals of the Wellington premier division competition. They currently sit in fifth position on the points table and to reach the top four they would almost certainly to win all of their last three games, the first of them being against Harbour City-Tawa at Clareville tomorrow. Juno admits the objective is a tall order in one of the toughest provincial competitions in the country but with victories over Indians and University in their last two games Dalefield are on a roll, and Juno sees no reason why that should not continue. "Indians are the top side and we've beaten them twice this season so that shows we can beat any of the other sides as well," he said. " It's all a matter of consistently playing to our potential and hopefully we are in that groove now." Harbour City-Tawa were actually leading the division one series at one stage of the season and now sit in third position. Juno described them as a well-balanced side which generally do the basics well but he has no doubts Dalefield are capable of matching them The Dalefield women's team also have a home game tomorrow with their opponents being the powerful University combination. Coach Andy Wilson knows a win is necessary if their side is to challenge for a top two berth at the end of the preliminary rounds but he also knows victory won't come without a top-notch performance. "These are the sort of games where things have to go according to plan?.if you have an off day you can be on the end of a decent beating," he said. Wilson said University were a side who relied on teamwork to break down opposition defences and he is keen for Dalefield to adopt a positive approach in their defensive play. "We have to make every tackle count???the more possession we can turn over the better for us,' he said. Wilson is confident though that if Dalefield get their share of quality ball they will make University sit up and take notice. "Our attack is right up there with the best and hopefully they will be able to prove that," he said.