Rugby: Taieri defaults to Southern

Taieri has pulled out of the Gainsborough Shield final against Southern this weekend.

Club president John Freeland declined to comment when contacted yesterday but Otago Rugby Football Union operations administrator Clinton Austin confirmed Taieri had advised the union it would default the match.

The club cited injuries and player unavailability and is understood to have been close to defaulting last weekend.

The Eels lost four further players to injury during their 24-22 win against Green Island at Peter Johnstone Park on Saturday. And with up to a further four players potentially involved in the Otago Sassenachs match against the Southland Spartans at the University Oval on Sunday, the team was left struggling for players and with no choice but to default.

It has been a tumultuous season for the 2014 champion. Coach Erik Vaafusuaga was sacked halfway through the campaign and the team never recovered from a mid-season slump which ultimately cost it a chance of making the playoffs.

The playoff for ninth and 10h between Zingari-Richmond and Pirates, which was deferred last week, will go ahead this weekend. Zingari-Richmond will host that fixture at Montecillo. The loser could face a promotion-relegation game against Eastern.

Pirates has struggled for numbers this season as well and came close to defaulting when a series of injuries left the club without enough front rowers for its round six match against Taieri.

Taieri agreed to bend the rules to accommodate Pirates. Pirates boxed on but the season has been torrid with the club recording just one win.

Add a Comment