Discipline key to semi-final

Discipline promises to be a key word in tomorrow's NPC third division semi-final match between Wairarapa-Bush and Mid-Canterbury at Masterton's Memorial Park.
With a place in the competition decider at stake and the two sides indicating in their preliminary round clash at Ashburton last weekend that there is precious little between them on the score of skill and potential keeping mistakes to an absolute minimum will be a prime requirement.
The 26-22 victory Wairarapa-Bush scored seven days ago should not be seen as any sort of advantage to the home side.
Sure, it gave them the opportunity to play the semi-final in front of their own-and hopefully very vocal-supporters but that will have played very little part in the Mid-Canterbury planning as they prepare for tomorrow's rematch.
The southerners made no secret of their disappointment at being relegated from second division at the end of last season and their determination to return to that level in 2005 won't have been scarred at all by last weekend's defeat.
In fact, they will probably be treating it as a blessing in disguise with any thoughts of a comfortable path to third division honours now well and truly on the back burner.
If complacency was an issue for Mid-Canterbury last Saturday it certainly won't be the case tomorrow.
They will come to Masterton knowing full well the huge effort it will take to knock over the home team and they will be intent on throwing everything-including the kitchen sink- at their opposition.
Wairarapa-Bush too will be taking nothing for granted.
They might have grabbed the win last weekend but coach Peter Russell was quick to emphasise in his after-match comments that it was far from a perfect performance.
He was unhappy at several aspects of his team's play, particularly ball retention and continuity, and concerned at the amount of metreage the Mid-Canterbury forwards were able to make with their rolling maul and how easily at times they exposed the Wairarapa-Bush defensive strategies when moving the ball wide.
Russell sees Mid-Canterbury as being a team capable of penalising Wairarapa-Bush if they do not provide adequate protection of possession. He wants the tidying of lineout ball to be much more secure than it was last weekend and support for the ball carrier in tackle situations to be quicker and more aggressive.
He is keen too to see Wairarapa-Bush show greater patience in their attacking play. Too often this season they have looked to mount attacks from first or second phase ball rather going through another four or five phses to ensure that the opposition defence is scattered, and therefore vulnerable.
Russell wants his forwards to be assertive in everything they do, such as they were in that outstanding second half effort against King Country a few weeks ago. He expects senior players like Mike Robinson and Stu Smith to lead the way and for their troops to be right on their shoulders.
It is vital though that the Wairarapa-Bush forwards maintain a cool head under fire. They have been inclined at times this season to earn the wrath of referees with their defensive approach at ruck and maul time and in a game where few points are likely to separate the teams at the final whistle that could be costly.
If last Saturday's clash is any indication it is in the midfield backs that Wairarapa-Bush might have their biggest edge. Second-five Nathan Couch and centre Simanu Simanu would have be two of the strongest runners in third division play and from all accounts Mid-Canterbury had trouble keeping them under wraps when they had space in which to operate.
That said it will be crucial to the Wairarapa-Bush cause that inside backs Hamish McKenzie(or James Bruce) and Patrick Rimene call the shots in such a way that Couch and Simanu are used only when the opportunity is ripe for them to launch themselves at the opposition defence.
Thay have to vary their attack so that Mid-Canterbury are kept guessing as to its direction and whether the initial thrust,is to be made by moving the ball through the hands or by well-placed kicks.
It would be criminal, of course, if Wairarapa-Bush didn't also take full advantage of the pace and elusiveness of their outside backs. In Esava Teko, Jorji Tamani and Jaco Pieterse they have three wingers with match winning potential and fullback Richard Carroll is developing into a more-than-handy counter attacker.
Hopefully tomorrow's game will see the Wairarapa sporting community turn out in their hordes to give the locals the sort of vocal support which we had when Wairarapa-Bush were strutting their stuff at first division level not that many moons ago.
Teams fair hated coming to Memorial Park then because of the ferventness of the crowd and without wanting to wish Mid-Canterbury any ill wouldn't it great if they had to cope with a similar state of affairs on this occasion.
It just might make the all difference to the end result.