Do or die for knockout semifinals at Rugby Park

Lee Bros Shield

ALL teams bar YMP will be at full strength for the Poverty Bay premier club rugby knockout semifinals at Rugby Park tomorrow.

Farmvets YMP, who face Enterprise Cars OBM, have lost the services of loose forward Shayde Skudder.

Fiercely combative Skudder picked up his third yellow card in last weekend’s win over Larsawn Ngatapa and has received a one-match suspension.

“It’s a big loss to the team. Skuds doesn’t take a step back from anyone and he’s also one of the senior players,” said YMP player-coach Reihana Wyllie, who will give seasoned campaigner lock Eru Wharerau until shortly before kickoff to recover from a niggly calf injury.

“We’ve got a few options to cover both positions. Shadye’s brother Chayse and Riwai Williams are capable of playing six. If Eru doesn’t make it I could play Willis (Tamatea, skipper and loose forward) at lock or start RJ Te Are at lock.

“Those will be the only changes to the starting line-up. The backs will be the same as last week.”

Wyllie said he had adopted a “more relaxed” approach this week as the Magpies chase their first Lee Bros Shield title since 2010.

“We’ve fallen down in the past five (years) at this stage or the final, and looking back I think we were too serious — too caught up in the occasion. This week we’ve played basketball at Lytton High School. It might work, it might not . . . we’ll know at the end of 80 minutes.”

YMP have not beaten OBM this season — drawing their round 1 game and losing to them in rounds 2 and 3 — but OBM coach Stu Blair said previous results counted for nothing in what had been one of the closest competitions in years.

“YMP are obviously hitting their straps and to beat Ngatapa at Patutahi (last weekend) is no easy feat,” Blair said. “With gale-force northwesterlies predicted, it could end up being a game of two halves.

“Having Willis (Tamatea) back (from injury) is a huge bonus for them. He leads from the front and is all over the park. From what I can gather, Reihana (midfield back) had an outstanding game against Ngatapa and our tackling will have to be 100 percent to contain him.”

Down because of fluBlair said all his squad were available for selection, including captain Murray Hewson, who missed last week’s loss to Woodbank High School Old Boys because of flu.

“We missed Muzza’s bulk and experience last week and if we can win enough ball from the set piece then it will be game on. We’re a young side but the skills set is fantastic.”

HSOB coach Wayne Ensor threw down the gauntlet to his side before the season kicked off when he challenged them to become the first HSOB side to go back-to-back since the 1998/99 seasons.

To have a chance of doing that, they will have to get past Ngatapa tomorrow.

“The goal hasn’t changed,” said Ensor, who will not be coaching the blue and whites next season. “All my energy will be on Ngati Porou East Coast (who Ensor is co-coaching in this year’s Heartland Championship). “But for now all I’m concerned about is tomorrow’s match.

Although HSOB beat OBM convincingly last week, Ensor said tomorrow’s starting line-up could contain a few changes.

“Nothing major. We’ll just look to getting the best team to start tomorrow. It’s cup rugby and you don’t want to be playing catch-up.”

HSOB, who have lost twice to Ngatapa this season, have a good blend of experience and youth.

Promising playersFront-row young guns Hikanui Curtis and Jody Tuhaka are on either side of seasoned hooker Russell Burns while locks Tanieiu Miikosi and Leslie Hills are two of the most promising players in the district. The loose trio, likely to be Trent Proffit, Tevita Maka and Siosiua Moala, are a formidable combination.

“Jody (captain) has matured into a real leader and will continue to get better,” Ensor said.

Corey Reihana has made the first five-eighth jersey his own, with former Poverty Bay captain and No.10 Scott Leighton content to come off the bench and move into second five.

“I’ve been really impressed with Zane Boyle and Korey Love in the backs,” Ensor said. “They’re both young and getting better with every game. Zane can cover wing or fullback. Korey’s confidence as a counter-attacker is really high.”

Ngatapa coach Will Faulks said his team had a simple game plan, “which if we execute well, I’m confident we can beat anyone on our day”.

“Knockout rugby is a step up in intensity, which makes doing the basics well and taking the opportunities that we can create so important. On the other hand, defence and discipline will be major factors at the weekend.

“We may have beaten HSOB twice but they qualified top of the round robin with a strong season to date. Come tomorrow that means nothing. We’ll be throwing everything at this game.”

Although Ngatapa lost to YMP last week, Faulks said tomorrow’s team would be similar to last weekend.”

“We’re well aware we aren’t a team of superstars. To get the result, we need to play as a unit.”