Winning run puts Kahukura in semifinal

After consecutive losses in June, Kahukura have put together a run of quality performances to claim a Division 1 semifinal spot.

In the last month they have taken on and conquered Katikati, Papamoa, Rangiuru and Waimana to secure fourth place and a trip to first-placed Te Teko in the semifinals today.Te Teko have won seven out of seven games in the round robin, including a 33-17 win over Kahukura in round two, and finished with a points difference of +202.

Kahukura coach Wayne Fell said his side had trained well this week and were feeling "pretty confident".

"We're struggling a bit in the front row but we've just got to front up tomorrow, the boys are pretty upbeat.

"We haven't beaten them this year so we'll certainly be the underdogs. There will be a big crowd there so they'll have a fair advantage.

"But, we're taking a decent crowd down too and it's semifinals, anything can happen."

Fell said his side was looking to continue playing the way they had in past few weeks.

"It's a little bit about who we've been playing, obviously, but sport is like that. Once you get a bit of momentum and the boys get a bit of confidence things change - it's just a pity we didn't get that at the start of the year.

"We've got a really good squad, we've come to what might be the end of the season and we'll have six boys not getting changed tomorrow, we've got about 26, 27, 28 players."

Fell said Thursday night's training was one of the best the team had had all year and the players had lifted their intensity this week.

"Tomorrow two of our older statesmen probably won't start, we're going to go with a young squad.

"If we stay in the hunt then we have an opportunity to bring those older heads on later in the second half. That's when experience comes into it."

In the other semifinal Ruatoki play Papamoa at Tuhoe Park. Both games kick off at 2.45pm.