Rugby: Poverty Bay on revenge mission

A week after being thrashed 7-46 and conceding a home semifinal, Poverty Bay head back to Oamaru tomorrow determined on revenge in the third-division NPC rugby semifinal against North Otago.

Beaten in the final last year by East Coast, who host Wairarapa Bush in Ruatoria on Sunday, Poverty Bay suffered severe embarrassment in Oamaru last weekend.

However, coach Brett Fell believes his team are capable of turning that result around, provided they step up several cogs.

"We fronted up all right at set-ball, but our option-taking from second phase and our ability to put the ball in behind them was non-existent," Fell said.

"But in saying that, North Otago played really well. They played out of their skins.

"It was probably the most complete performance I have seen by a third-division team in my time. They were excellent, but we didn't help ourselves.

"When you share possession on a 50-50 basis and lose by 39 points you have to wonder how you used it."

Fell said he had not needed to discuss what happened with his players, except to say there would be no second chances this weekend.

"We haven't dwelled on what happened last week because it is done with. There are just 80 minutes to go. But we have to be able to clear our ruck ball and move it away from the contact area and get it into space.

"If we don't do that we'll end up in the same position we were in last week."

Fell tipped defending champions East Coast to get their noses in front of Wairarapa Bush in Ruatoria.

"They're missing Orcades Crawford at scrum time, but they're very lucky to get Wirihania Raihania back from the judiciary. That is a big plus," Fell said.

"I think Mano Flutey will play a huge part.

"If they can play at the right end of the field, given the support and spirit they get on the sidelines, that could pull them through."

"I'm picking East Coast, but I do think it will be a very tight game."

- NZPA