Lakes has held the trophy for the plast decade and has been able to find fresh talent, including visiting international players, and a production line of emerging players from coaches Lan Bale, Mark Milburn (Queenstown) and Perry Crockett (Wanaka). It has also been able to marry this with retaining its experienced stars.
By contrast, Otago has given itself an almost impossible task of reversing the 8-4 loss in the first round in Queenstown. No fewer than six of the top eight men are unavailable. Ryan Geerdink and Shaun Paringatai are out of town, Alex Low is out of the country, Pat Nolan is injured and Aaron Hicks and Sam Poulter have study commitments.
Otago could hold its own on the women's side through Georgia Hume, Jessie Stevenson, Harriet Dorrington and Debby Stevens, but only schoolboys Paddy Ou and Carlos Reid remain from the original selections in the men, while promoted from the B team will be Hamish Low and Ryan Eggers. Jeff Elliotte resumes at this level after some years away.
Both Lakes and Otago play North Otago today, with the final round between Lakes and Otago on Sunday morning.
Division 2 involves Southland and South Canterbury A teams along with B teams from Otago, Southern Lakes and North Otago. After the first weekend rounds, Otago B and Southland are unbeaten and meet on Sunday morning in what shapes as a virtual final.
All ties are set down for Logan Park, with the Edgar Centre as backup.
