Unbeaten Nelson Bays will try to halt Hawkes Bay's 36-match winning streak next Saturday as the two teams eye a potential preview of the NPC second-division rugby final.
Leaders and defending champions Hawkes Bay continued their dominance with a 49-26 win over third-placed Counties-Manukau on Saturday but Nelson Bays kept pace,
racking up their sixth win, 26-15, over Manawatu.
It assured Nelson Bays of a home semifinal regardless of their result at home against Hawkes Bay in the final round robin match. At the other end of the table, Thames Valley were confirmed for relegation.
The four semifinal spots were decided on Saturday, with Counties-Manukau and North Otago joining the top-two in the playoffs.
North Otago nailed fourth place with a 46-33 win over Marlborough in Blenheim.
In Napier, Hawkes Bay ended Counties-Manukau's unbeaten run in emphatic fashion.
The Magpies ran in seven tries, while conceding two, for their 36th consecutive win to secure another home semifinal on October 9.
The Hawkes Bay forwards demolished one of the biggest packs they have taken on, before the backs cut loose.
Former New Zealand Maori No 8 Mutu Ngarimu was a powerful figure while openside flanker Nui Bartlett impressed with his link play out wide and scavenging in the tight. Bartlett set up two tries and scored one of his own. The try he set up for winger Karl Mudzamba in the 66th minute was the best of the match.
Counties-Manukau never looked like scoring a try until replacement first five-eighth Troy Nathan touched down in the 55th minute.
In Palmerston North, Manawatu looked as if they were ready to win before Nelson Bays powered home with three tries in the last quarter. The final try in injury time to wing Ali Durrant sewed up a bonus point.
In the second half Manawatu continued to dictate and Nelson Bays fell into error, spilling the ball and looking ragged, but they subbed on fresh and bigger forwards and that told.
North Otago cemented fourth place in perfect conditions in Blenheim, both teams produced outstanding passages of play in the 10-try spectacular, which was level 20-20 at halftime.
The result also spoiled the party for Red Devils halfback Aaron Senior in his 100th game for the province.
The southerners' gamebreaking runners, No 8 Tevita Fifita and left winger Pita Fifita, both scored two tries. Right wing Watisoni Lotawa also scored three tries.
Thames Valley will spend 2005 in division three after losing 10-62 in Wanganui.
Top four
* Hawke's Bay
* Nelson Bays
* Counties-Manukau
* North Otago
- NZPA
NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two | Division Three
Unbeaten Nelson Bays will try to halt Hawkes Bay's 36-match winning streak next Saturday as the two teams eye a potential preview of the NPC second-division rugby final.
Leaders and defending champions Hawkes Bay continued their dominance with a 49-26 win over third-placed Counties-Manukau on Saturday but Nelson Bays kept pace,
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