Rugby: Bay of Plenty set for semifinal showdown with Otago

Tauranga Domain will be filled to overflowing for the semifinal with Otago. PHOTO/FILE

It has been a long time since Bay of Plenty rugby supporters have had much to crow about.

Recent seasons have been at best average, with a third-equal placing in the 2011 ITM Cup a rare stand-out result in recent times.

So among loyal Steamers supporters there is a special blend of excitement and long suppressed positivity about today's Mitre 10 Cup Championship semifinal against Otago to be played at the Tauranga Domain from 2.35pm.

Last week the Steamers outplayed, and then let back into the game, an out-of-sorts Waikato but finally prevailed in a thrilling finish to set up the clash with Otago.

Two weeks ago the teams met under the roof in Dunedin's flash stadium and after a pulsating 80 minutes of attacking rugby the Steamers prevailed to take the points.

Bay of Plenty head coach Clayton McMillan looked justifiably pleased with his team after their final training run on Thursday that oozed confidence.

He knows his team is ready for a hugely important occasion for Bay of Plenty rugby.

"There are no negative thoughts whatsoever. I know it is a bit cliched but we are not looking beyond this week because next week doesn't exist if we don't get the job done Saturday. We have had our backs to the wall over the last three to four weeks, with needing to get points or needing to win, and we have managed to achieve that," McMillan said.

"We are one of the teams that have come into the finals with a little bit of momentum and it is a real bonus we get to play at home in front of what we hope is an even bigger crowd than what was an incredible crowd last week.

"It will be a proud moment for the union but that sort of support has the ability to help players grow another leg and we might need that help. Otago will be hurting from when we beat them and it will be bloody tough to get up over them."

Tauranga Domain last hosted a home semifinal in 2000 when the Steamers were successful in defeating King Country 48-30 in the old National Provincial Championship second division.

McMillan, one of just 17 players to play more than 100 games for the union, captained the Bay that day.

"I have got fond memories of that game. I distinctly remember an atmosphere very similar to last week where for the first time, as long as I ever played for the Bay, they got some temporary seating and surrounded the ground.

"That day and the week later, when we played a final and won that, the intimacy and vocal support and energy from the crowd was pretty obvious."

Let us hope a run to the finals this year may encourage a Bay of Plenty business to make use of the blanket national and international television coverage of the Mitre 10 Cup and sponsor the jersey.

Bay of Plenty is the only union in New Zealand's top-tier of rugby to lack a front of jersey sponsor to the embarrassment of the players and everyone who supports the team.

It is long overdue to put that right.

Bay of Plenty Steamers team v Otago:
1. Aidan Ross (21), 2. Liam Polwart (11), 3. Jeff Thwaites (18), 4. Keepa Mewett (capt, 32), 5. Troy Callander (20), 6. Mitchell Karpik (3), 7. Hugh Blake (17), 8. Jesse Parete (17), 9. Richard Judd (8), 10. Mike Delany (69), 11. Joe Webber (23), 12. Terrence Hepetema (16), 13. Lalakai Foketi (26), 14. Monty Ioane (27), 15. Chase Tiatia (23)
Reserves: 16. James O'Reilly (15), 17. Jordan Lay (6), 18. James Lay (7), 19. Tyler Ardron (4), 20. Henry Stowers (16), 21. Matthew Garland (1), 22. Luke Campbell (14), 23. Elijah Nicholas (15)