The real battle in Citizens Shield rugby will be to determine the order of teams ranked second to fourth heading into the semifinals.
Old Boys has the top spot sewn up with 45 points, 14 ahead of second-placed Athletic Marist.
Tomorrow, Athletic plays third-placed Excelsior, which had a bonus-point win last Saturday and is only two points behind Athletic.
The resilient Kurow side has fought back to hold fourth place, just five points behind Excelsior and 14 ahead of fifth-placed Valley.
Excelsior, if it fields its top XV, has a forward pack to match Athletic, and its backline, with Jason Forrest at first five-eighth, produces a structured style of rugby aided by a speedy back three.
Athletic Marist, on the other hand, lacks structure or direction in the backline and individuality dominates.
Old Boys should maintain its winning streak when it plays Valley at Weston, while Kurow should pick up another five points when it travels to play Maheno.
Scoring tries is the obvious key to success. Old Boys, in 10 games so far, has scored 74 tries. Athletic Marist and Excelsior follow with just 36 tries, followed by Kurow (33) and Valley (25).
The top scorer after the second round is Old Boys halfback Inoke Naufahu with 143 points, followed by Brad McKenzie (96), Ben Nowell (65), Rory Harries (46) and Kayne Middleton (44).
The leading try-scorer going into the final qualifying round is Old Boys front-rower and captain Ralph Darling.
He has 11 tries and is followed by team-mate Sale Pi'i (nine), Kurow's Craig Robson (eight), Old Boys winger Siua Ngalo (eight), Old Boys flanker-lock Max Mapusaga (seven) and Old Boys No 8 Soni Tongotongo, Old Boys flanker Filipo Veamatahau and Kurow's Sam Fleming (all six).
- Terry O'Neill
