Can any side rein in powerful Old Boys?

Maheno flanker Marcus Balchin makes a break during his team’s Citizens Shield match against...
Maheno flanker Marcus Balchin makes a break during his team’s Citizens Shield match against Excelsior at Centennial Park last month. Philip Janssen.
The third and final round of the Citizens Shield in North Otago club rugby  begins tomorrow and, as expected, every other side is chasing Old Boys.

The powerful Old Boys  team has racked up 10 straight bonus point wins and sits on top of the table on 50 points. Its dominance is shown by the next best team, Valley, having just 31 points.

Old Boys is obviously the team to beat although it had a tough examination last Saturday against Excelsior.

Excelsior played well for most of the game and its forwards were strong at set-piece time.

But Old Boys, steered round the paddock by inside backs Sefo Maake and Inoke Naufahu, managed to rack up a 29-22 victory after leading 19-17 at the break.

Tomorrow, Old Boys take on Athletic Marist at Centennial Park at 2.45pm.

Athletic Marist has been struggling for consistency this season, never more clearly shown than its game last week against Maheno.Athletic Marist was ahead 24-9 early in the second half but Maheno then put the foot down and ran out a 33-31 winner.

Maheno hosts Kurow in what is an intriguing match tomorrow at the Maheno Domain.

Maheno is the defending champion but has struggled to live up to the hype of last year, although it still has the potential to go all the way. Maheno has 24 points on the competition ladder.

Kurow caused the upset last week in tipping over Valley and has  got a few players back over the past few weeks. But it sits bottom of the table, tied on 18 points with Athletic Marist, although it is still in with a sniff of the playoffs.

In the other match, Valley takes on Excelsior at the second ground at Centennial Park. Excelsior sits on 20 points, just two points ahead of Kurow and Athletic Marist.

Two of the three matches tomorrow will be officiated by South Canterbury referees, while Heartland Championship referee Nick Webster will control the match between Excelsior and Valley.

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