Rugby: Defence vital for plucky Hora Hora

Finals

Premier Reserve: Kamo v Mid Northern, 6pm.

Premier: Mid Northern v Hora Hora, 7.45pm.

Northland rugby supporters wanting to get in a bit of practice before the ITM Cup season kicks off should get on down to Toll Stadium tomorrow night for the Bayleys Southern Districts finals.

Kicking off with the premier reserve final at 6pm, Toll Stadium will be alight and abuzz as a season's worth of hard work culminates at the home of rugby as Kamo look to stop Mid Northern from going back to back.

Following the premier reserve game clash, the premiers take the park with a 7.45pm kick-off. This year's final sees the consistent Mid Northern take on the late-surging Hora Hora.

Throughout the year, Mid Northern have been either top or near the top of the table, finishing the season in a dominant position to be 14 points clear of their nearest rival.

Mid Northern's size and finishing ability will play a factor in tomorrow's final, having scored the most points of all sides with 709. However, Hora Hora's defensive record looks to be up to scratch to halt the Hukerenui-based side.

Hora Hora have the second best defensive record, behind Old Boys Marist, in the competition after having only conceded 355 points to date. In comparison, Mid Northern has leaked 411 points.

Even with their impressive record, Hora Hora coach Mark Wati is putting an emphasis on stopping the rampant Mid Northern boys.

"[We have been] working on defence," Wati said. "Our attack will come, the boys like to throw the ball around a bit but the key is defence."

Wati added that he hoped senior players like fullback Aaron Baigent and Evan Nesbitt would step up as they did in last weekend's come-from-behind win over Old Boys Marist.

Mid Northern coach Craig Edwards said his side would be emphasising on getting a good platform from the forwards, like his side did in their 25-8 semifinal win over Mid Western.

Edwards said he had thought Old Boys Marist would get up over Hora Hora, however acknowledged that rugby was a funny game sometimes and Hora Hora obviously wanted it more.

The teams have met twice this season, with results going each way. In the first round, Mid Northern won 24-17 before Hora Hora got even with a 32-27 win.

Mid Northern and Old Boys Marist were the only teams to have premier and premier reserve sides in the semifinals, with Mid Northern's premier reserve side now searching for back-to-back titles.