Pride and passion in play

HANDS OFF: High School Old Boys prop Sean Ormond prepares to fend off Ngatapa hooker Ihaia Kerr as first five-eighth Mike Livingston gives chase. HSOB won this game 25-22. Tomorrow they play YMP at Barry Park. Ngatapa play Waikohu at Te Karaka. Picture by Paul Rickard

It's another big weekend for local premier-grade rugby as teams vie for semifinal places.

Last week's games shook up the Civil Project Solutions premier-grade points standings. Ngatapa dropped to third place after their loss to High School Old Boys and YMP moved to second.

It's an all-country affair as Larsawn Ngatapa travel to Te Karaka to play GT Shearing Waikohu tomorrow.

Waikohu player-coach Ra Broughton says he expects Ngatapa to start hot off the blocks.

“They'll have the same mindset as we had after we lost to YMP, to prove to ourselves that we're better than that performance,” he said.

Waikohu are focusing on their option-taking and getting the ball through the hands.

A couple of times last weekend the ball was taken into contact when all that was needed was for the player to draw and pass, Broughton said.

Hooker and captain Geoff Pari is back in action for Waikohu this weekend. He will start off the bench as he's easing back into playing after injuring his shoulder.

Ngatapa coach Stephen Hickey said the atmosphere among the players was pretty relaxed going into the game.

They were excited at the opportunity to prove themselves and meet Waikohu up front.

He said they didn't believe they could finish in the top semifinal spot any more, so they had nothing to lose.

The teams are all but set for the 2 v 3 semifinal.

It would take a Herculean effort from HSOB, who are seven points behind third-placed Ngatapa, to press for a place in that semifinal considering the teams' upcoming fixtures.

Second place in the regular season is still up for grabs, but the new format means YMP and Ngatapa are essentially fighting for home-field advantage.

“Our boys are pretty disappointed with how they played last week and you're only as good as your last performance . . . it will be a good test for us,” Hickey said.

“It's all about momentum heading towards the semifinals now, and teams getting their squads 100 percent.”

He said they were hoping for good weather to support the Ngatapa and Waikohu style of play, with physicality and open running.

“We should be in for a lot of fun.”

Contract Consultants HSOB play East Coast Farm Vets YMP at Barry Park tomorrow. Both teams are coming into the game on the back of good form and wins last weekend.

They're both looking to continue their strong runs into the final three games of the regular season to make the top four and semifinals.

HSOB coach Danny Boyle said both teams had been improving every week and he expected the game to be tough.

His team were coming off an away win at Ngatapa, but Boyle said it wouldn't go to their heads.

“Our guys are pretty level-headed,” he said.

“Our goal is to make the top four. We're not there yet . . . there's still work to be done to cement our place.”

YMP are focusing on starting with a strong first 20 minutes and improved defence.

“Defensively we're focusing on line speed and making our tackles,” coach Brian Leach said.

All teams had been going from strength to strength, and HSOB were no exception, he said.

“They'll be coming out all guns blazing. We're going to have to battle up front with them and see who wins the forwards battle.”

Utility player Shyann Wyllie will likely miss the game with an ankle injury, but YMP will welcome back Jayden Milner, who didn't play last week due to work commitments.

Enterprise Cars OBM have their JAB club day this weekend and host Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates at the Oval.

The semifinal hopes of both sides are faint at best, but pride is still on the line.The HSOB win against Ngatapa moved them 10 points clear of fifth-placed OBM.

OBM coach Trevor Crosby said they expected a lot of supporters at the game and wanted to start strong and stay in front.

He said the plan was to attack at lineout and move Pirates around the field. Defence would be key and players had to be ready to make a lot of tackles.

He was looking for big performances from key playmakers such as Rikki Terekia, Hunter Tangira and Felix Burns.

Joven Tipene would make his debut for the team on the wing and had “speed to burn”, Crosby said.

“We need to take all the opportunities to get the win. Pirates are a good team and we need to be ready to battle.”

Pirates coach Willie Waitoa said they were looking forward to the game.

They beat OBM in the first round of the competition but he had seen them grow a lot this season and expected this to be a completely different game.

“Whoever loses this game will probably get the wooden spoon.”

Standings: Waikohu 31 (6 wins, 1 loss, 7 bonus points); YMP 26 (5W, 2L, 6BP); Ngatapa 24 (5W, 2L, 4BP); HSOB 17 (3W, 4L, 5BP); OBM 7 (1W, 6L, 3BP); Pirates 6 (1W, 6L, 2BP).

Match details: OBM v Pirates, the Oval, 2.45pm. Referee, Aaron Brown.

Waikohu v Ngatapa, Te Karaka, 2.45pm. Referee, Mark Greene.

YMP v HSOB, Barry Park, 2.45 pm. Referee, Damien Macpherson.