Nelson Bays coach cautious of North Otago

1.00pm

Nelson Bays are taking one careful step at a time after their 34-32 NPC division two win over title favourites Hawke's Bay last Saturday set tongues wagging.

For the optimists, a home final, promotion-relegation clashes and even first division status are suddenly being bandied about.

But Nelson Bays coach Wayne Love isn't having a bar of it. For Love and his players nothing else matters except getting past North Otago's challenge in tomorrow's semifinal at Trafalgar Park.

A quick glance at recent second division history suggests Nelson Bays will start the match as firm favourites.

Nelson Bays comfortably beat North Otago 30-10 in Nelson last season and eventually got home 34-21 in a howling Oamaru southerly three weeks ago, scoring five tries to two.

While all that casts a relatively rosy glow over Nelson Bays' prospects, the team's difficult 80-minute grind in Oamaru has alerted them to the formidable task ahead of them tomorrow.

"Certainly, you've got to touch on those good things, but we've closed the door on that," Love said.

"We've had something (round robin) to work on and that's achieved. We've got a goal for the season and that was phase one basically. Now we're moving on to the next phase. It all starts from scratch."

Love and his players will be according North Otago every ounce of respect.

"They're a good side and they've got some very dangerous ball carriers -- and they bring them into the game very well.

"So we've got to make sure we're right on it as far as our defence, for a start, and trust our patterns and systems -- and be patient."

North Otago certainly know how to score points.

First five-eighth Ryan Bambry is the only player in either the second or third division to have passed a century of points this season and is currently sitting on 113. Nelson Bays' leading pointscorer is centre Aaron Kimura with 64.

Loose forward Tevita Fifita and usual winger Watisoni Lotawa also share the lead among the second division try-scorers with eight each, one more than Nelson Bays winger Lucky Mulipola. Lotawa switches to fullback for tomorrow's clash.

"They use their strengths within the team. They've got a couple of props who like to carry the ball and a very good No 8 (Ray Ofisa) who's also a very good ball carrier.

"They've got a couple of wingers with pace and who have the ability to score. Give them any space at all and they're a dangerous team."

But, apart from relegation-bound Thames Valley, North Otago have the worst defensive record in the second division, a factor that Nelson Bays -- now the only unbeaten team left in all three divisions -- will be determined to exploit.

Love has made two changes to the side who started against Hawke's Bay, with Tere Wycliff replacing Patrick Finau at lock and Isikeli Ratulevu preferred to Robbie Malneek at fullback.

Wycliff is a highly competitive individual but has struggled to produce the form that made him a first choice selection last year.

No 8 Kahu Marfell's damaged ribs came through last Saturday's physical test well and he again completes an effective loose trio with Marist clubmates Mark Bright and Callum Taylor.

Hooker Dillin Clark's ankle continues to give him problems but he will take his place on the bench, with Shane Parata making another start at tighthead prop.

New Zealand's top referee Paddy O'Brien will control the match.

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

North Otago: Watisoni Lotawa, Scott Mayhew, Corey Kara, Mike Mavor (captain), Tai Halalele, Ryan Bambry, Ryan McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, Ross Hay, Tevita Fifita, Andrew McClintock, Cam McKenzie, Atelea Katoa, Vai Aukafolau, Hotili Asi. Substitutes: Viliami Veikoso, Pita Fifita, Noa Soqeta, Brett Williams, Dan Gard, Pila Fifita, Nathan Cunningham.

- NZPA

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