By CHRIS RATTUE
Ngati Porou East Coast's fairytale rugby adventure has already become a part of sporting legend for beating the odds and gathering an extraordinary following.
But even East Coast officials were stunned at the number of supporters who watched the side beat Manawatu in Palmerston North on Saturday, giving the
country's smallest union a home semifinal in their debut year in division two.
East Coast, winners of the third division for the past two years, watched as a last-gasp 45m penalty attempt from Manawatu fullback John Guise missed the target, allowing the Coast to claim a 24-22 win and finish second in the competition.
Nelson Bays, who won at Whakarua Park a fortnight ago, will return to Ruatoria for the semifinal on Sunday. Manawatu will travel to play division leaders Hawkes Bay in the other playoff the same day.
An estimated half of the 7000 crowd at the Palmerston North Showgrounds were East Coast supporters.
Three buses and a mass of cars travelled from the Coast, which has a population of just 6000 and only 500 rugby players.
Many supporters came from other areas, including two busloads from Wellington.
Manawatu operate from a population base of 100,000 and have 5000 players.
The region is even the home of the national rugby academy.
"It was crazy. It was a sea of blue," said East Coast chief executive Anthony Nelson.
"There was hardly anyone left on the Coast. I was absolutely blown away by the support. This keeps getting better and better. I'm not a religious man but I prayed when Manawatu were taking that last kick."
Brothers Wirihana Raihania, the captain, and Horace Lewis scored the tries as East Coast finished the regular season with six wins from eight.
2001 NPC schedule/scoreboard
NPC Division One squads
