Bay to contest silverware for the first time since 2019 Lochore semifinal

North Otago players stand by as Poverty Bay flanker Keanu Taumata dives over the line for a try during Week 6 of the Heartland Championship at the Oval. The two sides meet again in the 5 v 8 Lochore Cup semifinal on Saturday.Picture by Paul Rickard

Familiar foes North Otago stand between Poverty Bay and a place in the Lochore Cup final.

When these teams last met — at the Oval in Week 6 — the Bay trailed 38-12 at halftime but stormed back in the second spell to run North Otago close.

Although the Bay lost 50-43, they earned a four-try bonus point.

The fight Poverty Bay found in that second half is what they will need from the first whistle to the last if they are to make the cup final.

The last time Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Wekas were this close to silverware was the 2019 semifinal against West Coast.

This season’s path to the semifinal has been far from smooth for the Bay, and the team’s commitment to fight for every point can’t be ignored.

They have the benefit of a sound backline.

Player of origin Jonty Stewart, from Hawke’s Bay, has been steering the ship in the absence of captain and first five-eighth Kelvin Smith, who is out for the season with injury. But this weekend Stewart is unavailable, too. Mitch Purvis is likely to step into the role.

Second-five Jacob Leaf and centre Taine Aupouri make a dangerous combination, while Te Peehi Fairlie and Joe Tikicidre on the wings with Ricardo Patricio at fullback give great options for counter-attacks.

Bay coach Miah Nikora said he had confidence in the team he had and was pleased with the performances his backline had put in, week in, week out.

“I’m happy with the form of a lot of the guys,” he said.

“Taine (Aupouri) is playing really well at centre, and has a good combination there with Jacob (Leaf).

“The back three have been in good form as well.”

The forward pack have made solid ground this season. They gave table-toppers South Canterbury a good run for their money, equalling their scrum and — when the pressure was on — beating them.

Halfback Ra Broughton’s involvement in the squad has been beneficial for the forwards’ confidence and given players like flanker Keanu Taumata the opportunity to be creative.

This weekend could also serve as Taumata’s 30th first-class cap-and-blazer game . . . the team had not been announced when The Herald went to print.

By the 15-minute mark of the Week 6 clash, North Otago had applied early pressure and put up 26 points to build momentum. Stopping that from happening again will be paramount.

“Our mindset and attitude must be in the right place,” Nikora said.

“First and foremost, they have some big ball-carriers and they get them going forward, so we need to negate that with our defence and our line speed.

“They have a really good lineout that they are able to launch well, which enables them to get their big ball-carriers into the game, and they can be quite physical with that.

“So if we can disrupt their set-piece, it would hopefully negate the impact of some of those ball-carriers. That will be key for us.”