Magpies face tough trip to Dunedin

RUGBY

IF THERE was a rugby God he would probably give Hawke’s Bay a points start for their NPC championship semifinal against Otago in Dunedin on Sunday.

Either that or lay on a charter flight for the Magpies, who are facing a nightmare travel schedule because of the clash with the Bledisloe Cup rugby test in Dunedin on Saturday night.

With flights and accommodation seemingly booked out across Dunedin, Hawke’s Bay have just about exhausted every travel avenue.

As of last night their most likely scenario will see them fly from Napier to Christchurch via Auckland on Saturday, followed by a bus trip from Christchurch to Dunedin.

Then straight after the 2.35pm kick-off they will bus back to Christchurch where they will stay the night before a flight home via Auckland again.

Manager Neil Weber was thankful for one small mercy, a last minute corporate cancellation in Dune- din freeing up 30 beds for his travel party. ‘‘It’s certainly not easy but it is coming together,’’ Weber said.

‘‘We are in Dunedin on Saturday night so our game day prep shouldn’t be affected.’’

Weber said that there was still a ‘‘slight chance’’ of a direct flight from Auckland to Dunedin on Saturday but he is not banking on it.

Weber also said if they did not bus back to Christchurch after the final whistle there were no available flights till Tuesday.

Hawke’s Bay thought they had earned a home semifinal when they tipped over Wellington 35-24 last Thursday only for Otago to spring a surprise by beating Auckland 37-33 on Sunday.

Asked what the team thought of their situation, Weber said ‘‘they’ll be fine’’. At stake is a final against either Tasman or Southland, who meet on Saturday. The winner earns promotion to the premiership. Tamed Lions determined to roar against Counties