Lochore Cup Preview: West Coast v North Otago

What promises to be the biggest day for West Coast rugby in years should also be played out in perfect weather, which will appeal to both teams. There's plenty of experience and no small amount of talent in these sides, and a really good day is in prospect

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VENUE & TIME: Rugby Park, Greymouth, Saturday October 31, 13.05 NZT.

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 34 – West Coast 16, North Otago 18.

LAST TIME: October 17, 2009 (Greymouth) – West Coast 35-17 North Otago.

WALKING WOUNDED: Neither team reported many injury concerns and both sides are at full strength.

FORM: West Coast has enjoyed one of its best seasons for many years, even if it just missed the Meads Cup section. The Coast has won all six home matches and, in the last couple of weeks, played some extremely good rugby. First, when it had to beat North Otago and take a bonus point to secure top spot, a first-half blitz got that job done and in the semi, against neighbouring Buller, West Coast put 50 on the board for the first time in the union's 119-year history, cruising home after a superb opening 40. North Otago, one of the few unions to register early interest in the new intermediate division proposed by the NZRU, has subsequently battled through the sort of year that makes those ambitions seem a little … well, ambitious. Capable of winning by huge scores on days when it gets everything right, North Otago has also had days when too much has gone wrong – as happened last time they crossed the Alps.

WHO'S HOT: West Coast has its most experienced team for years and the pack, a team strength, is built around a core of veteran players who appeared for Nelson Bays in that union's heyday between 1998 and 2005. Prominent among them are Blair Mirfin, a prop who was rated the best scrummager below Division One a few years back, mobile hooker Rowan O'Gorman, who has been on a scoring tear in the last two weeks with five tries and talented No 8 Mark de Goldi, who has returned to his home union after years of plying his trade around the world. Josh Cornish is a highly rate first-five for whom bigger things may soon beckon. North Otago also has a number of veterans to call on including skipper Ross Hay, the 2007 Heartland Player of the Year who became North Otago's second centurion earlier this year, midfielders Mike Mullins and Aaron Kimura, who have both played a lot at higher levels, and first-five Daniel Waenga, whose virtuoso performance last week against King Country (not to mention his 26 points) is the main reason why North Otago made the final.

WE THINK: We think West Coast, which has played some excellent rugby in recent weeks, will have too much to gain for it to lose this one. This is the first final ever for the tiny union but something most of the team veterans have already experienced with other teams, and we believe these men will guide the Coast home before a big crowd.

TEAMS:

West Coast: 1 – Blair Mirfin, 2 – Rowan O'Gorman, 3 – Sam Durie, 4 – Peter Nicholls, 5 – Tere Wycliff, 6 – Chris Mason, 7 – Mitchell Sincock, 8 – Mark de Goldi, 9 – James Ferguson (captain), 10 – Josh Cornish, 11 – Maleli Tora, 12 – Jared Cropper, 13 – James Ward, 14 – Luke Hughes, 15 – Robert Thompson.

Reserves: 16 – Michael Monk, 17 – Gordon Iafeta, 18 – Alan Monk, 19 – Brad Houston, 20 – Josh Hill or Blair Sims, 21 – Nik Davy, 22 – Damien Blackburn.

North Otago: 1 – Palenapa Mafi, 2 – Mike Essex, 3 – Tevite Mafi, 4 – Aisake Fonua, 5 – Taua Limuloa, 6 – David Simpson, 7 – Ross Hay (captain), 8 – Josh Collier, 9 – Jason Forrest, 10 – Daniel Waenga, 11 – Lemi Masoe, 12 – Aaron Kimura, 13 – Mike Mullins, 14 – Ekeroma Sefo, 15 – Peter Breen.

Reserves: 16 – Fraser Fletcher, 17 – Ralph Darling, 18 – Paula Fonokolafi, 19 – AJ Paton, 20 – Nick Webster, 21 – Mike Mavor, 22 – Tane Puki.

REFEREE: James McPhail