Now it's Northland's turn to feel the heat

It's a match Vern Cotter is loath to talk about.

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

His Steamers were leading 23-16 midway through the second half when they collapsed dramatically.

Northland swamped them 49-23 and last place was confirmed two weeks later.

Tomorrow's match in Whangarei highlights a reversal in fortunes.

Winless Northland are heading for the first division cellar and Bay of Plenty have 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 has not changed is Bay's abysmal record against Northland.

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

Since then, the two teams have played 11 NPC games, of which Bay of Plenty has won two.

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 that Bay of Plenty's last three games have been tough fixtures against Canterbury, Otago and Wellington, Cotter opted to shorten Wednesday night's final training run to 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, in contrast with their outstanding home record.

"I guess there is a hint of desperation," Northland coach Bruce Hodder said, "but we knew the whole competition was going to be difficult from the start."

He targeted Bay of Plenty as beatable as early as June, but has had increasing doubts as the season progressed.

"Bay of Plenty have done very well. 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 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."

- NZPA