Unbeaten Hawkes Bay rest key players

No strain was evident when coach Mark Shaw made several changes to his Hawkes Bay line-up for today's game at Wanganui.

But he denied that it was a move motivated by Wanganui's low rating in the second division competition - rather a chance to rest some key players carrying minor injuries so they could be fit for the following week's match against Manawatu.

Hawkes Bay, the unbeaten leaders on 25 points, should dispatch sixth-placed Wanganui without having to move out of first gear, despite Wanganui enjoying home-ground advantage.

With a strike force now capable of beating some of the lower-ranked first division teams, Shaw does not need to flog some of his players unnecessarily this weekend.

But he was still wary of Wanganui: "We've got three games to go and we don't want to drop our guard."

The match will mark 100 years since the first Wanganui-Hawkes Bay game and the 42nd clash between the two provinces.

Manawatu and Nelson Bays will be trying to consolidate a semifinal spot in Palmerston North. The home side have retained most of the starting line-up from the previous round when they beat King Country 40-6.

"The test for us is coming over the next three weeks," Manawatu coach Ken Maharey said. "We're down to play the other sides who are in the top four and that will be the test as to whether we're any good or not."

Nelson Bays coach Bill Liddell has sought hard work from his players this week after their 35-7 loss to Hawkes Bay last weekend.

"They've got to accept they won't make the top four unless a bit more effort is put in. They know where they stand," Liddell said.

East Coast, who have a bye today, are second in the competition with 23 points, followed by Manawatu (18), Nelson Bays (16), Marlborough (12), Wanganui and Mid Canterbury (7), Thames Valley (6) and King Country (3).

King Country and Mid Canterbury play at Te Kuiti, and in the other match, Thames Valley meet Marlborough at Thames.

In the third division, Buller's fortunes have not often been the talk of Westport, but coach Glenn Elley cannot seem to escape the well-wishers.

The minnows have experienced a revival similar to that of neighbours West Coast two years ago, shaking off the title of worst rugby team in New Zealand to sit atop the table after four rounds.

After winning their first three matches, over Horowhenua-Kapiti, Poverty Bay and West Coast, Buller had the bye last weekend, but afterwards still found themselves leading the competition by a point over North Otago.

For a team who won just two matches last year after winless seasons in 1998 and 1999, it means almost double the crowd support and a new-found enthusiasm in a province with just four senior clubs.

It has also staved off talk of a merger with West Coast, with the combined length of both provinces the same distance that separates Auckland and Wellington.

Buller's big test comes today when they host South Canterbury, who come off a 59-5 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Elley, a tough blindside flanker who played 16 seasons for Buller and tasted rare success, has seen the attitudes of the players and supporters transform in the space of weeks.

"We're three for three and it's a long time since we've done that," Elley said. "We've probably had the easiest ride through the early rounds, but now that we've done it the boys are so confident in themselves.

"People are coming up on the street and saying, 'Good luck for Saturday, we will be there,' and some haven't been to a game for three years."

While confident of making the semifinals, Elley was guarded about whether the team could do the unthinkable and go all the way.

"I'd like to be confident. All I'll say is I rate our chances of making the semifinals very highly."

Their clash with South Canterbury is the match of round five, with the visitors having won two of their three games so far.

In Greymouth, North Otago can keep the heat on Buller with a win over West Coast, who have lost their first four games. North Otago have averaged 30 points a match in their three wins so far.

In the other match, Poverty Bay host Wairarapa-Bush in Gisborne, both having made below-par starts to the season.

Horowhenua-Kapiti have the bye.

- NZPA