Rugby Chat host Paul Dwyer gives his assessment of the nine clubs which battled for Dunedin club rugby honours this year.
Alhambra-Union ... D
This was supposedly its 150th year, but looking at its performance this year, thank the stars it delayed it. Prems finished with the beloved "spoon" after a promising start. Prem women looked the goods in the round-robin but crashed and burned in the playoffs. It had only 23 colts players, defaulted numerous times and its P2s also finished last. The only shining lights were its women’s development and the seniors. It has serious work to do.
Dunedin ... A
Represented by eight teams, thus the biggest club in the region. Prems finished top four. Women’s team won the grade. Prem colts and junior colts are in finals. Its three junior colts sides were in the top six. It is still mathematically in the hunt for the Ainge, and off the field the club looks to be in great heart. With the improvement in the prems and results across the club, it is top marks.
Green Island ... C-
After the heights of last year, things have certainly changed. Its prems were in the bottom three. Prem colts, with numerous defaults, tailed the field. The junior colts and seniors were mid-table. Hard to rate the women’s development grade as there were only four teams. Shining lights are the P2s, who are in the final this weekend against Kaik. Off the field, membership and crowd numbers are big, which is great but it doesn’t mitigate on-field performance.
Harbour ... C
Prems made the top six. It was sixth in prem colts and bottom four in junior colts. Seniors were mid-table. The plus is it fielded two colts sides, a first for it over the past few years. The club looks in good heart, and clubrooms are full when the sides are at home, which is great to see. Still pretty average on-field results, so an average rating.
Kaikorai ... A
Another great season for the high veldt mob with four teams in finals. Prems finished top four. Prem colts top two, P2s unbeaten top two, junior colts top two, and two teams in the top four. Its seniors are also top two. Overwhelming favourite to retain the Ainge. The club is in great heart as well off the field.
Southern ... B
Doesn’t have big numbers — only four teams — but has it delivered on the field this year. It won the Speight’s Championship Shield over previously unbeaten Taieri when it was written off by all and sundry (including this writer). Prem colts made the top four and went very close to upsetting the unbeaten Dunedin Makos in the semifinals. P2s and junior colts were at the bottom of the pile. Its senior side made the top four but there have been serious issues around the discipline of this team and the word is the semifinal against Kaik was called off with 20 minutes to go. But it shouldn’t detract from the overall performance.
Taieri ... C+
By its current high standards, a decidedly average year. Its prems looked the goods and had bonus-point wins in all its round-robin games bar the last. It was the biggest favourite since Phar Lap but couldn’t deliver against Southern. Prem colts were in the top five and P2s filled the same slot. Its junior colts and seniors were pretty much also-rans. Its biggest problem will be getting a good price for all the winners’ balloons and shirts it had printed for finals day. Wing Commander M. Casey will sell them to you cheap!
Varsity ... C
Not a great year by its lofty standards. Prems squeaked into the six, and prem colts made the top four, but that is about as good as it got. Prem women came unstuck in the semis, and junior colts and P2s were also-rans. Still a lot of work to do getting more people into the clubrooms to provide a better atmosphere so the teams want to be there.
Zingari ... C+
Fielded four teams this year, which was an improvement. Prems dragged themselves off the bottom, which is worth a beer on its own! Prem 2s finished a creditable sixth. Alas the junior colts were a lonely last, but it’s only up from there, and the seniors were mid-table. Off the field, the club is in great heart and it is truly a club of absolute battlers.
