The Central Otago premier club rugby competition is set to start with a bang tomorrow with the Cromwell Goats and Arrowtown, which fought out last year’s final, drawn to tackle each other at Anderson Park in Cromwell.
The Goats won last year’s final 32-20 after edging Arrowtown 34-33 in a mid-season thriller, all of which points to an epic contest.
However, while Cromwell, which scored a remarkable 62 tries in nine games last season, has retained virtually all its players, Arrowtown is bleeding, having lost four of last season’s standout performers.
"It’s going to be a challenge," Arrowtown player-coach Aidan Winter, who at 39 boasts more than 200 premier appearances, said.
"We’re struggling for numbers, having lost four of our standout players."
Missing from the 2020 squad are winger Brian Egerton, who is heading to the North Island, halfback and co-captain Jackson Wallace, centre Tom Grandiek and, most seriously of all, powerhouse prop Matt Flower, one of the standout players last year, who is giving rugby a break.
The only gain is No8 Nemo Gent, a forward, not a back.
"Right at the moment we have only 11 backs available.
"We can’t afford any injuries."
In contrast, the Goats have lost only one player, lock Alex Grogan, who is heading back to Christchurch.
The side has picked up prop Blair Laughton, back after a couple of seasons overseas, most recently in Perth.
However, it will probably lose the services of gifted midfielder Hayden Todd, who has been offered a contract to play provincial rugby for North Otago. To qualify, he must play club rugby for Kurow from mid-June.
"He’ll be a massive loss," Goats manager Russell Decke said, "but it’s exciting for Central Otago rugby to have one of our players recognised."
Three trophies will be at stake tomorrow: the White Horse Cup, The Battle of the Gorge Trophy and the Speight’s Cup, all held by Cromwell.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s Central Otago competition did not start until June and, condensed to one round, ran until August.
The one-round concept has been retained this season, and the Australian NRL McIntyre concept has been adopted for the playoffs, involving the top six-placed teams.
Upper Clutha, which has exited at the semifinal stage the past two seasons, has a new coach in Garry Hape, who has worked with the Otago Maori team.
Hape is a great enthusiast who will bring a fresh approach to the club. He will be assisted by Garth Swan.
The only notable acquisition is loose forward Sam Calder.
Upper Clutha opens its programme against Matakanui Combined at Wanaka.
An exciting development for the Wanaka-based club is having a colts team enter the Dunedin metropolitan junior colts competition, a notable first for a Central Otago club.
The Upper Clutha colts team, coached by Mark Evans, demonstrated it was ready for the challenge by blitzing Taieri by 50 points in a pre-season workout.
The Upper Clutha colts team has been allocated four home games in the nine-team competition: two at Wanaka and two at Alexandra.
In tomorrow’s other games, the Cromwell Cavaliers will take on Maniototo in the curtainraiser to the Goats match, while Alexandra will host Wakatipu at Molyneux Park.
- Bob Howitt
