Desperate Devils a real threat

1.00pm

There's an unnerving "wounded animal" feel to Marlborough's second division NPC challenge at Trafgalgar Park tomorrow.

Marlborough have lost three of their five championship games so far and still has the bye to come.

If desperation is going to provide any sort of motivating factor, then Nelson Bays will be expecting both barrels from the Red Devils at 2.30pm tomorrow.

Add the Seddon Shield, which Nelson Bays has held since 1997, to the mix, and the scene is set for a volatile clash.

Nelson Bays captain and prop Gavin Briggs has been banging heads with Marlborough front rows for about nine seasons now, and he's aware how much bite the Seddon Shield will add to the contest.

"A lot of emphasis has been placed on that," said Briggs after a rigorous training week.

"The way we look at it, they've had a couple of losses lately and if they lose again, they'll really struggle to make the semifinals. So they've got a couple of good reasons why the shield means a lot to them."

"We know we've got a classy backline, and if we can create space for them and give them an opportunity to play their guy man on man, they'll generally beat them nine times out of 10. So it's up to the forwards, really, to lay that platform."

Halfback James King is still struggling with the knee problem that ruled him out of the Counties clash, and Kane Jury gets another start.

Up front, lock Brian Dineen's lineout ability and mobility have been preferred ahead of Patrick Finau's huge physical presence, although Finau will be required to make a significant impact off the bench.

Nelson Bays: Robbie Malneek, Lucky Mulipola, Aaron Kimura, Ali Durrant, Jack Kelly, Tim Taylor, Kane Dury, Kahu Marfell, Mark Bright, Tere Wycliff, Brian Dineen, Callum Taylor, Gavin Briggs (captain), Dillin Clark, Ben May. Substitutes: Zac Taulafo, Shane Parata, Patrick Finau, Francis Meredith, James King, Rudolf Meredith, Isikeli Ratulevu.

Marlborough (from): Marty Campbell, Kieran Hickman, Barry Ria, Bryn Cotching, Aaron Bancroft, Sam Gibbons, Ono Levu Temo, Sam Howe, Gray Cornelius, Aaron Senior, Andrew Large, Laurie McGlone (captain), George Love, Ross Love, Blair Baxter, Eroni Naua, John Ryan, Stu Campbell, Apisai Nagi, Dave Evans, Mark Stewart, Dane Taingahue, Tristan Moran.

- NZPA

NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two |