Promotion-chasing Bay put the Poverty behind them

From the depths of 100-point thrashings to the high of an NPC third division final - that has been Poverty Bay's journey this season.

Today the dream of promotion to the second division can become a reality when they meet Wairarapa-Bush at Rugby Park in Gisborne.

Poverty Bay's season began disastrously - a 117-12 thrashing from Hawkes Bay, a 116-3 massacre at the hands of Auckland in their Ranfurly Shield challenge and a record loss to East Coast, 65-7.

But while it damaged, it did not destroy coach Kiwi Searancke's men. Through hard work and a positive attitude the side improved with each game to be one win away from a historic championship-winning season.

A turning point was the team's friendly against Horowhenua Kapiti in August. Their 16-12 success jolted the players into realising that winning was in the mind and it set the scene for the rest of the season.

Since then they have won six of their eight NPC games, and a seventh today would earn them a berth in next year's second division.

Searancke believed the players began to build resolve after the Auckland game. "They knew they were towelled, but never dropped their bundle, and that was a good sign."

Being involved in the side had been a marvellous experience for Searancke, who went to Gisborne after a tenure in Europe's version of the Super 12, the Heineken Cup.

"It has been a long time since I coached a totally amateur side. It has been a learning curve for me."

Searancke said Wairarapa-Bush would go into the final as underdogs, which would make them more dangerous.

* Wade Owen is the only change to the Poverty Bay side from last week's semifinal. He replaces James Kerr, who headed to Italy this week to play for club side L'Aquiala.

- NZPA

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