A default win by St Clair over North Otago has given St Clair not only three points but also added a valuable six games to the team's tally in the coastal men's pennant series.
Despite losing two contests in its first four outings, the team now shares a game tally of 19.5 with the unbeaten Otago Blue team and is only three points shy of the series leader.
The default also launches St Clair well ahead of Chisholm Park, which began the weekend in third place and only half a game behind St Clair.
North Otago has been very competitive this year but an injury and work commitments meant it was unable to field a senior team.
However, Chisholm Park must take some responsibility for its position, as it was held to a 3-3 draw with the cellar-dwelling Otago Gold team at Balmacewen.
There was a bizarre finish to that contest and all six matches finished with close margins.
Play in the US Open was suspended at the end of day two, due to the dark conditions, but there was no such alteration at Balmacewen. The players competed on the last few holes in wet, cold and dark conditions.
''We were using the light from our cellphones to look for golf balls at the end. It was just ridiculous,'' veteran campaigner Sean Geary said.
It was not a good day for the usually successful Geary brothers. Sean fell to George Wardell on the 17th green, and Kyle was beaten by Otago No 3 John McIntee, who parred the final hole to take the lead.
The Park tail wagged and No 5 Antony McCullough beat Craig Lyall 2 and 1. At No 6, Josh Finnie notched his first senior pennant win, at the expense of Balmacewen veteran Murray Edgar.
It was left to the final two games and Otago looked to be ahead when No 1 Thomas Gillan accounted for Mark Collie with one hole to spare.
The battle of the No 2 players was square after 17 holes but Phil Bungard won the final hole to clinch the half for his team.
