Bay fear cornered Taniwha

1.00pm

It's a rugby match Vern Cotter is loath to talk about, which tells a story in itself.

Two years ago the Bay of Plenty coach took his team to Northland, desperately needing a win to stave off the division one wooden spoon and avoid an end of season date with division two champions Hawke's Bay.

Leading 23-16 midway through the second half, the Steamers collapsed dramatically as Northland swamped them 49-23 and last place was confirmed two weeks later.

Tomorrow's match in Whangarei highlights a major reversal in fortunes, with winless Northland destined for the first division cellar and Bay of Plenty with a royal chance of making their first division one semifinals.

The side have rewritten the record books already this season but will need to do so again -- one thing that hasn't changed is Bay's abysmal record against the Cambridge-blue Taniwha.

Not since 1990 has a Bay of Plenty side ventured to Whangarei and won.

Since then, there have been 11 NPC games between the two unions with only two Bay of Plenty successes.

One of those was last year in Rotorua but even that 42-27 success was not without jitters, as Northland stormed back from a 0-42 halftime deficit.

Conscious of this record, and also the fact Bay of Plenty's last three games have been tough fixtures against Canterbury, Otago and Wellington, Cotter opted to shorten Wednesday night's final team training run to just 30 minutes in an effort to keep his troops fresh.

"We had to focus for a short period of time," Cotter said.

"There's been some fatigue generated from the last few games .

"I'd like to think the players' focus will be firmly on this match because it's one that we can't let slip aside, especially with ambitions of finishing the season well and possibly getting a semifinal.

"We've worked into a position now and I'd hate to think a lapse in concentration would cost us that."

The nagging feeling is that Bay of Plenty don't travel well, obviously having to be contrasted with their outstanding home record.

Taranaki startled them with a 58-14 demolition in New Plymouth a month ago and Northland are most dangerous when cornered.

"I guess there is a hint of desperation but we knew the whole competition was going to difficult from the start," Northland coach Bruce Hodder said, admitting he'd targeted Bay of Plenty as a winnable fixture as early as June but has had increasing doubts as the season progresses.

"Bay of Plenty have done very well and made every post a winner. And that's a lesson for our union. What's happening in the first division is that we're getting good professional structures coming into the likes of Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

"I guess we're the ones dragging the chain because we haven't got those professional players operating and that's reflected in our performances."

Cotter just hopes his side doesn't bear the brunt of Northland's pent-up frustration.

"They've dominated large parts of the games and not often transformed them into points and we're hoping the game against us isn't going to be the one where it all clicks together."

Northland: Jared Going (captain), Fero Lasagavibau, Hayden Taylor, Thomas Toailoa, Matt Faleuka, Julian Huxley, John Senio, Jake Paringatai, Luke Ottley, Maseke Davu, Brad Taylor, Mike von Dincklage, Bronson Murray, Tim Dow, Ryan Wederall/Stan Wright. Reserves: Simon Lemalu, Wederall/Wright, Tim Henwood, Aaron Wright, Rhyan Caine, Manu Burkhardt-Macrae, Aaron Baigent/Josh Levi.

Bay of Plenty: Adrian Cashmore, Apoua Stewart, Rua Tipoki, Grant McQuoid, Anthony Tahana, Glen Jackson, Rua Tipoki, Colin Bourke, Nili Latu, Wayne Ormond (captain), Bernie Upton, John Moore, Ben Castle, Ngarimu Simpkins, Taufa'ao Filise. Reserves: Simon Chisholm, Scott Weir, Mark Sorenson, Paul Tupai, Charles Hubbard, Robert Moon, Charles Baxter.

- NZPA

* Check nzherald.co.nz/rugby for match results and reports this weekend

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