BAY WINS 24-13 TO MOVE BACK UP TO SECOND ON THE TABLE - GO THE BAY

I may have a naturally pessimistic nature but tonight could be the night where we abandon our semi-final hopes. Looking at the fixtures at the start of the season, 5 wins from 7 at this point is probably a win or 2 ahead of what we could have expected given the tricky opponents we had to face. Of our 7 home games, Northland, Tasman and the Naki were absolutely must win games to keep us clear of the bottom 4. Now we have exceeded expectations, all of our remaining 3 home games must be won (in my opinion) to give us a top 4 chance.

For the third week running we are in a top of the table clash as Tasman has sneaked into 4th spot on the back of some good wins although they are yet to beat any well-performing team - their victims have been Harbour, Counties, Manawatu and Waikato who are all lodged in the bottom 6. But Tasman is a solid side with some dangerous runners in the backline (Poki, Mulipola) and stalwarts in the forwards (Bright, Poff, Ainley) and will provide a strong challenge. The Bay cannot afford to sleepwalk their way through this game, I want to see us come out firing with the forwards running hard and straight and giving quick ball to the backs. It is time for Junior and Delany to take charge of a game and take a team apart.

Teams are as follows.

Steamers: Toby Arnold, Nigel Hunt, Wayne Hughson, Phil Burleigh, Jason Hona, Mike Delany, Junior Poluleuligaga, Colin Bourke (capt), Luke Braid, Zac Hohneck, Culum Retallick, John Moore, James McGougan, John Pareanga, Joe Savage.
Reserves: Deam Elmiger, Josh Hohneck, Mark Burman, Matt Henwood, Josh Hall, Cory Aporo, Zar Lawrence.

Tasman: Robbie Malneek, Blair Cook, Lucky Mulipola, Kade Poki , Afeleki Pelenise, Andrew Goodman, Kahn Fotuali'i, Mark Bright, Jonathan Poff, Glen Gregory, Joseph Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Tristan Moran, Quentin MacDonald, Sakaria Taulafo.
Reserves: Daniel Perrin, Hamish Cochrane, Anthony Elisala, Zane Winslade, Shaun Begg, Matty James, James Kamana.

Toby Arnold finally gets his chance to start at full-back following Ben Smith's injury, Hughson starts instead of Aporo while Zac Hohneck gets his first start on the blind-side. Joe Savage is back and starting which should solidify the pack. Go the Bay.