Wekas out to keep flame alive

Leading from the front: Poverty Bay Wekas captain Dan Law runs into the Thames Valley defence during their Week 7 clash in Gisborne last Saturday. The Wekas beat Thames Valley 29-17. They travel to Greymouth to take on last-placed West Coast on Saturday. Picture by Paul Rickard

It's unlikely but Poverty Bay head to Greymouth with a whiff of making the playoffs in the last round-robin games of the Heartland Championship tomorrow.

Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Wekas, sitting 10th on the table, face bottom-placed West Coast.

The Wekas go in on the back of a strong performance against third-placed Thames Valley in Gisborne last Saturday.

Putting together the best rugby of a tough season to date, the Wekas won 29-17 — their second victory of the season — and are looking to continue in that vein.

Wekas head coach Miah Nikora said there were a couple of key areas that needed improvement — such as “coming out of scrums and lineouts into our defensive shape” — and that was worked on in training this week.

“Also our attack shape as well. We were missing opportunities because we hadn't reloaded back into our positions.

“Thames Valley opened us up a few times from our kick-chase, when our kicks didn't find touch and that left us a bit vulnerable, and the chase, so that was our focus on Tuesday night.”

The Wekas, on 11 points, have a mathematical chance of making the Lochore Cup playoffs (for the fifth to eight placed teams) but need a bonus point win and for Buller (16pts) and Horowhenua Kapiti (15) to lose without picking up bonus points.

Buller face Wairarapa Bush while Horowhenua Kapiti are up against Thames Valley.

“We have a sniff, which we are excited about,” Nikora said.

“I've just been saying to the boys this week that the only thing we can control is our performance.”

West Coast have yet to win this season and will be hungry to end their season on a high.

The Coasters have been competitive in most of their games including a 26-19 loss to North Otago last weekend and a 29-27 defeat to Ngāti Porou East Coast in Week 5.

That is reflected by the seven bonus points they have collected.

“Just looking back at their games and looking back at their results, they're a good side,” Nikora said.

“They wouldn't be happy with where they are on the table.

“Looking at the footage of them, they're still a dangerous team. They just haven't had the rub of the green.

“We expect a really tough game and we know that they will want to sign their season off on a positive note.”

The Bay forward pack is unchanged from last week.

Prop Jarryd Broughton, who made a big difference after returning from injury for his first game of the season last weekend, will again start in the reserves.

There are a few changes in the backs, with Ted Walters starting at second five in place of Jacob Leaf and Moses Christie shifting from wing to fullback in the absence of Paoraian Manuel-Harman.

Te Peehi Fairlie will fill the wing spot.

Braedyn Grant comes on to the bench to replace Mitchell Purvis.