Momentous game approaches for Jackson and BOP

1.00pm

Glen Jackson is set to bring up his milestone 50th game against North Harbour on Sunday and will be a key figure as Bay of Plenty try to book a place in the NPC division one semifinals for the first time.

For the second week in a row, he'll be putting his personal achievements to one side to focus on the team performance.

Last week the mercurial first five-eighth kicked immaculately, nailing five conversions and a penalty to break Ron Preston's long-standing first division record for points in a season.

He now has 127 and is the leading point-scorer in all divisions.

Jackson leaves as soon as this season is over to take up a contract with English club Saracens and dearly wants to extend his Bay of Plenty career past this weekend.

"It's been the same scenario for the last four weeks now -- we've had to win otherwise we've known we probably wouldn't get up for the semifinals," Jackson said.

"At least now we know straight away if we win, we're in there, and that makes it pretty special.

Despite Bay of Plenty lying third on the table, Sunday's match will be a virtual quarterfinal with the loser missing out on the playoffs.

It seems cruel, given that they have only lost twice this season and have scaled enormous heights in winning and retaining the Ranfurly Shield.

"We would feel pretty robbed if we didn't get there," Jackson conceded.

"If we lose, we could shoot down to sixth place and that's really not where we deserve to finish or want to finish. It's been a great season by any standards -- we've played well all year and only lost two, one of which was very close with Canterbury and one was a hiding from Taranaki when we had the Shield."

As much as he's ignoring his 50th game this week, there will be a couple of poignant facets in raising that milestone.

Ironically he also made his Bay of Plenty debut against North Harbour, at Onewa Domain in 1996.

Bay of Plenty lost 32-3 that day although Jackson only came on as a late replacement for Jason Spanhake.

The half century is also warmly welcomed after he missed out on that mark during his four-year stint with Waikato from 1997-2000, finishing agonisingly short on 49 matches.

What does mean a lot to Jackson is Bay of Plenty's success -- that much is clear.

"This game means a lot, not just for Bay of Plenty but individually and not only for All Blacks but for Super 12 as well.

"It would be pretty easy for people to say we had a pretty good season but couldn't step up to the big game. If we made the semifinals, who knows where people could be playing and who for."

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES

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