4th October 2004. From industrious correspondent Kiwipie

Never mind the quality, look at the points table. 10 points from Northland and Southland and all we have to do is beat Harbour to make the semis. We were hopeful 4 weeks ago that 6 wins would be enough for a semis spot, but the dramatic decline of Otago and Auckland has meant the other teams kept winning as well.

Just like at Northland we made a great start, a try to Baxter in the corner from almost the first move of the game, converted by the departing Lord Jacko. For the rest of the half, we bumbled about, spilling the ball and somehow failing to score another try. In a golden passage of play, Baxter overran the inside pass from Cashmore a yard from the line, Baxter went over again but obstruction was ruled and then Tipoki spilled the ball as he reached over to plant the ball. 7-3 to us at half-time and the usual state of nervousness for the home fans.

We started the second half like the first one, McQuoid and Tipoki combining for a Tipoki try and we relaxed a little. Not for long of course as Southland started to gain in confidence and Maguire scooted over for the try, penalty to us and then T-Pole hits back down our right hand side again. 17-13 to us now as luckily, Apanui left his kicking boots at home. Then a nice backline move and Tipoki goes over again and once more we have a good lead. We spend the next 10 minutes camped in our own 22 as we combine superb defence with poor play – at one time a series of driving tackles knocks them back from our own goal-line to the 22 only for the penalty to be conceded and we’re on our line again.

Southland have a 5 metre lineout which we cleverly throw right over the top to Latu who relieves the pressure. Not long later, in the very same position on the pitch, we stupidly try it again and a Southland man is there instead. He passes to Miller 5 yards out. McQuoid would have needed a semi-automatic weapon to stop him from there, 24-20 to the Bay.

So yet again going into the last 5 minutes we are within a converted try of defeat but yet again (just like against Waikato, Wellington, Northland) the good guys come through. Suddenly we’re playing good structured football, Jacko kicks us into position and from a 5 metre lineout we rumble over, try to Simpkins. There was even time for McQuoid to dot down from a ricochet and there we are, a comfortable 38-20 win.

So what was the problem with the Bay? Basics, basics, basics. Too many lineouts went astray, too many passes were dropped, too many passes were made under pressure, too many penalties were given up. Also a lot of the forwards seemed to be hanging in the back line waiting for play to come back to them rather than hitting rucks en masse. Maybe the injuries are starting to catch up with us, when Filise went off, we were 3 front-rowers down, that must have an effect.

On the positive side, the loose trio were everywhere as always, and the Big O was knocking people back with his tackles all day. Latu had some good runs in open play. The foursome of Jacko, McQuoid, Tipoki & Cashmore carved up Southland repeatedly, they do drop some ball as some of the moves seem quite complicated but on Saturday they more than made up for it by the end. 

Hori was back on the field at last, and put in a solid performance along with a Hori-babe. We even got 2 streakers at the end, one male streaker who got away and a lady streaker who was a little shy and was “gang tackled” by the security conscious guards. Wonder why they didn’t go after the guy?

And so onto Harbour for our “quarter-final”. Win or lose it has been a great season, I just hope it doesn’t end on Sunday. We can still sneak in for a home semi, if we win with a bonus point and the Naki don’t get 5 points. We can even finish top if you add a Southland win over Wellington into the mix. But if we lose, we could finish as low as 6^th. The nerves are starting already.