Big test for unbeaten Hawkes Bay

NPC Second/third divisions

Second division leaders Hawkes Bay face one of their toughest matches of the season when they travel to third-placed North Otago tomorrow.

The Oamaru clash is the match of the round, with Hawkes Bay - the only unbeaten side in all three NPC divisions - coming off a bye, while North Otago are fresh from thrashing neighbours Mid Canterbury last weekend.

North Otago, who have performed beyond expectations after earning promotion from the third division, will be without winger Pila Fifita, who was called in as an injury replacement for the Tongan World Cup squad.

Any slip from Hawkes Bay could be pounced on by second-placed Nelson Bays, who start heavy favourites to beat Thames Valley at Paeroa.

Counties Manukau can virtually book a semifinal berth if they beat Marlborough at Pukekohe, while whoever wins the clash between East Coast and Mid Canterbury at Tokomaru Bay will register their first victory of the season.

If Mid Canterbury lose, they will have virtually no chance of staying in the division because they next face tough games against Marlborough and Hawkes Bay.

Mid Canterbury have one point - a bonus point against Manawatu. East Coast have two points.

Masterton hosts a table-topping third division clash today, when Wairarapa Bush and South Canterbury potentially battle for home advantage in the semifinals.

Third-placed King Country, just one point behind the leaders, will travel to Westport to face Buller.

The other matches see Poverty Bay host Wanganui in Gisborne and Horowhenua-Kapiti try to revive an inconsistent season against bottom-placed West Coast at Levin.

Horowhenua-Kapiti, three points off the division lead, are looking for a good result. But that's what the punters expected last weekend before the team suffered an upset loss, 28-26, to Poverty Bay, who are second from bottom.

The week before they had beaten second-placed Wairarapa-Bush 34-12 in what coach Peter Kemp said was the best game of the season.

- NZPA

NPC points table