Rugby: Top reason for Pryor to be bookies' try-scoring favourite

Bay of Plenty v King Country

Nuggety Bay of Plenty winger Keith Pryor does not have the physical presence of most modern-day backs, but what he lacks in size is compensated by a freakish ability to sniff out the tryline.

Pryor has an uncanny knack for scoring tries, and at $1.35, is the bookies' red-hot favourite as the player most likely to score a try across any of the six NPC semifinals this weekend.

Pryor will be on the right wing for the Bay of Plenty when they clash with King Country at Tauranga Domain tomorrow. TAB sports betting manager Neil Sorenson said Pryor was the undisputed best finisher across all divisions and was as close to a certainty as punters would get.

Pryor, who lives in the small Eastern Bay of Plenty settlement of Te Teko, said he was flattered to be singled out for national attention.

He has dotted down in each of his last seven games for Bay of Plenty, missing out just once, in the NPC opener against Wanganui two months ago, and is the leading NPC tryscorer with nine, one ahead of team-mate Sam Hala.

He was the NPC's top tryscorer last season with 10.

"Being from way out in the sticks, it is pretty nice to be recognised like this, but being at such short odds puts a bit more pressure on me," the 64-game Bay of Plenty veteran said.

At just 1.68m and 75kg, Pryor is a small man in what has increasingly become a big man's game, particularly out wide, where he is often giving away 20kg to opponents.

"I guess I am pretty small for a winger, but I don't feel small out on the field. I've had a lot of experience, which helps me to look after myself against bigger guys."

That experience includes six playoff games for Bay of Plenty, with the first back in 1993 when Bay of Plenty beat North Auckland 41-26 but lost the promotion final to Counties, 10-38.

He is hungry for more success tomorrow.

"The feeling is that we can do it, but we've got to get all our injuries out of the way and try to get it together on the day," he said. "We're all looking for the big one, which is to get up to the first division, because there's really nothing to play for if we don't go up."

For the first time since the NPC playoffs were introduced in 1992, Bay of Plenty have won the preliminary round of the second division, but coach Gordon Tietjens said they had to start from scratch if they wanted to bag their first championship since winning the inaugural first-division title in 1976.

"Sunday will be a huge test for us up front because that's where King Country are strongest and we'll have to match them there before trying to unleash our firepower out wide," he said.

"We've been hit with a multitude of injuries in the last few weeks, but now's the time to put those aside because we're either in or out, there are no second chances.

"Winning the round-robin means nothing, because if we trip at this hurdle we're gone."

Tietjens made significant changes to the squad after training at Tauranga Domain on Thursday, but there was bright news on the injury front.

Hooker Thompson Tapsell ran freely for the first time since injuring a calf muscle last month and rejoins the front row alongside Tevita Taumoepeau, back after knee injury, and Steve Simpkins, who moves from hooker back on to the loosehead.

Jason Chandler and Paul Tupai are reunited in the second row after injury, while captain Clayton McMillan returns at No 8 after recent hamstring trouble.

Rico Gear and Justin Wilson are partnered again in midfield.

King Country coach Noel McQuilkin said his team's biggest worry this week had been nerves.

"The feeling is good in the squad, but the boys have been a bit jittery because of the semifinal situation," he said.

Hooker Paul Mitchell plays his 140th game for King Country tomorrow, overtaking All Black legend Colin Meads and edging closer to former front-rower Phil Coffin's 144 appearances in the maroon and gold.

Bay of Plenty: Paul Waiariki, Keith Pryor, Rico Gear, Justin Wilson, Sam Hala, Dean Jennings/Rodney Gibbs, Rameka Poihipi, Clayton McMillan, Craig De Goldi, Jason Emery, Jason Chandler, Paul Tupai, Tevita Taumoepeau, Thompson Tapsell, Steve Simpkins. Res: Nathaniel Walker, Toa Samania, Brad Tutua, Kingi Houkamau, John Moore, Dave Gorrie, Glen Remnant.

King Country: Kevin Weinberg/Baven Brown, Dion Mathews, Hayden Martine, Johnny Toloi, Kuka Asolupe, Eddie Robinson, Lee Peina, Jared Nordstrom, Paul Luttrell, Daniel Alofa, Marc Morunga, Leitu Elia, Daniel Godbold (capt), Paul Mitchell, Glenn Mulgrew. Res: Kris Browne, Johnbarrie Sim, Weinberg/Brown, Craig Bell, Danny Gaoa, Jamarl Hona, Lance Tibby.