Rugby: Bay not taking semi for granted

ROTORUA - Bay of Plenty will be seeking revenge and their second consecutive appearance in an NPC second division rugby final when they play King Country at Rotorua's International Stadium tonight.

King Country caused a surprise in round five of pool play by beating Bay of Plenty 17-16 at Taumarunui, a result not forgotten by the Bay as they head into the second division semifinal.

There is also the memory of 1991 when the Bay lost to King Country in a promotion-relegation battle to play in first division.

Last season, Bay of Plenty lost the division final to the Central Vikings at Napier.

Bay of Plenty hit top gear last weekend when beating a woeful Wanganui side 70-0 in Tauranga, and coach Gordon Tietjens has stuck with the same 15 from that game, the only change coming on the bench where lock Wayne Ormond returns from a knee injury in place of hooker Craig Lockwood.

Tietjens said there was a feeling of confidence in the side following last weekend's result.

"That game has provided a lot of confidence within the side and confidence that we can play well," Tietjens said.

King Country coach Noel McQuilkin said his team had little to lose going into the match.

"We were not expected to be there anyway so it's a bonus for us," said McQuilkin, whose team finished second from bottom last year.

"We are not being negative about it. We will go out and have a crack."

In the other semifinal, Nelson Bays will play Hawkes Bay tomorrow night.

Bay of Plenty: Andre Bell, Keith Pryor, Massey Tuhakaraina, Justin Wilson, Nathan Strongman, Dean Jennings, Rameka Poihipi, Clayton McMillan (capt), Craig De Goldi, Rowan Frost, Paul Tupai, Glen Remnant, Warwick Morehu, Thompson Tapsell, Kingi Houkamau.

Reserves: Ross Martin, Paul Waiariki, Todd Blythe, Brad Tutua, Samuela Asi, Jason Emery, Wayne Ormond.

King Country: Kevin Weinberg, Dion Mathews, Hayden Martine, Tui McKenzie, Olly Ryan, Eddie Robinson, Lee Peina (capt), Rueben Taniora, Nigel Philpott, Wilf Paalvast, Rob Harrison, Jamarl Hona, Daniel Godbold, Bobby Larkins, Glen Mulgrew.

Reserves: Kris Browne, Baven Brown, Darren Benson, Daniel Gaoa, Justin Gellatly, Daniel Alofa, William McCurdy. - NZPA