Bay Of Plenty: Tietjens identifies specific games as keys to survival

The classic case of how difficult it is to make the jump from the second to the first division was provided by Northland a couple of seasons ago.

It is now the turn of Bay of Plenty to try to make the leap, and they face the additional problem of having to avoid relegation.

Northland crushed allcomers in the second division in 1997 but could not win a game in the top flight in 1998, when they conceded, on average, nearly 40 points a game.

Luckily for them, they were still assured of a first-division place and have gone on to become a decent mid-table side in the top division.

But that first season requires so many adjustments, and Bay of Plenty have not been helped by the departure of some key players, although they have secured the services of Chiefs first five-eighths Glen Jackson, his old Waikato backline comrade Damian Karauna, Waikato loosie Dave Dillon, King Country prop Daniel Godbold, who was an unused Chief this season, and former All Black loose forward Dallas Seymour from Canterbury.

And for a blast from the past, lock Mark Weedon returns to Bay of Plenty.

He last turned out for them in 1987, when the then first-division side also included his current coaches, Gordon Tietjens and Brent McKillop.

Weedon, a former Crusader, has been with London Wasps for the past four seasons.

Bay of Plenty have also brought in Queensland lock David Duley, Queensland wing Scott Barton, who is in the Australian sevens squad, and Tongan Pacific Rim hooker Aleki Lutui.

But there are significant losses. Flanker Craig de Goldi and wing Justin Wilson were signed by Auckland before last season's NPC championship even began.

Wilson has made the grade so far in Auckland, but de Goldi has missed out and cannot go out on loan for another season, making it an especially pointless loss for the player and the Bay.

Tighthead prop Tevita Taumoepeau and centre Rico Gear are now with North Harbour.

So how will this new combination gel in the first division? Bay of Plenty's tradition tends towards the spectacular rather than the power play of their Chiefs partners, Waikato.

It is still probably their best option, but that is a risk and reward policy. Undoubtedly, they will come unstuck at times.

But Tietjens has targeted specific games they want to win to keep their first-division status - and it should make for some interesting clashes against the likes of Southland and Counties Manukau.