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After three rounds, every team is on the board.
All six clubs in North Otago have notched at least one win from the opening three weeks of an intriguing Citizens Shield competition.
Those in the one-win column are defending champions Excelsior, who beat Old Boys, as did Maheno, while Kurow beat Blues, and Old Boys beat Kurow.
Valley and Athletic Marist have a clear lead and are yet to lose a game this season.
Athies and Valley drew when they met each other. Valley also beat Maheno and Blues, while Athies have beaten Kurow and Maheno.
Valley host Old Boys in Weston tomorrow in what promises to be a big encounter.
Valley’s burly spine up front never lets them down, and 2026 has been no different. Cameron Rowland and Jake Greenslade have been in the thick of it.
Old Boys are known for playing with plenty of flair, and Ilai Atuekaho and Kadin Turner scored twice last week.
Athies and Blues meet in an always highly anticipated battle of the carpark.
Athies have been strong across the field and produced a strong second half to beat Maheno 43-17 last week.
Lock Epineri Logavatu and back Alfie Coop scored two tries each.
Blues, who have been plagued with injuries, will need to bounce back from last week’s narrow 24-20 loss to Valley in a repeat of last year’s final.
Former Waitaki Boys’ High School captain and Zingari-Richmond back Tyree Manaia looked impressive in his first game for the defending champions, slotting two conversions and two penalties.
Kurow are back home after a heartbreaking 40-39 loss to Old Boys in Oamaru last week.
They will put on a spectacle against fellow country club Maheno, who have relished the fulltime services of North Otago utility Ben McCarthy.