The Valley-Athletic Marist clash was a fine example. Valley, one of three country clubs in the competition, went out to an 11-0 lead before Athletic Marist surged back to tie it up at 14-14 minutes before the break. Then Valley’s points-scoring machine, first five-eighth Dan Lewis, set up a try to put Valley into a halftime lead. However, Athletic Marist hit back to lead 19-14 early in the second half before replacement first five Dylan Edwards took the paddock. The burly midfielder then split the at-times hesitant Athletic Marist and Edwards created the space for winger Brad Fleming to scamper over.
Valley’s man of the match, Lewis, converted to give his side a two-point lead. An Athletic penalty put it in front by one before Lewis added his 19th point for the game with his fourth penalty.
Valley was pinned in the southwest corner of the park but it held on through fierce defence and the Valley players and supporters let it rip after the final whistle.
The difference between the two sides was Valley’s ability to play a more controlled game. It was able to stick to its possession which it used more favourably than that of Athletic which at times had rushes of the blood and the build-up of an attack was too often frittered away.
Athletic Marist is now in fifth, four points below Excelsior and just four above bottom team Kurow. But eight matches remain before the semis. This week Valley will be at home at Weston against Old Boys, now with a double-figured lead over Valley, which is 10 points clear of last year’s champion, Maheno.
Athletic Marist will meet Kurow in the main game at Whitestone Stadium tomorrow, while Excelsior will play Maheno on the No2 ground. All games kick off 3pm. North Otago’s rugby scene has a real international flavour about it and 2017 is no exception. Eight men and four women from the northern hemisphere are playing their rugby in North Otago.
Aaron Martin, from South Leicester RFC, is a centre at Excelsior while Moran Davies, of Mosely Park RFC, is a loose forward with the same club.
Dan Lewis, a first five-eighth from Bedford, is playing for Valley. Isaac McNulty, of Birmingham, is a midfielder for Kurow while Freddie Clark, also from Birmingham, is a prop for Kurow.
Southend’s Mike Lawrence is a loose forward-lock at Maheno, as is loosie Peyton Eager, a Canadian from the Cowichan club. Dan Walker, from English club Chinnor, is an inside back with Athletic Marist.
Four women play for North Otago in the Dunedin competition: Patsy Ford and Sydney Proven, of Denver side Glendale Raptors, Catrina Atunes, of Sport Lisbon and Benifica, and Morgan Walker, from Canadian club Bayside.