Clutha set to carry on

Clutha fullback Tyler Bichan dives over the tryline in the South Otago club final against Heriot...
Clutha fullback Tyler Bichan dives over the tryline in the South Otago club final against Heriot at Balclutha last year. Photo supplied.
Some teams will be looking for redemption and to right the wrongs of the first round when the second round of games get under way tomorrow while others will want to carry the momentum forward.

Clutha is unbeaten after the first round. It has locked up the Springbok Horns and the Speight’s Jug for the year, playing an exciting brand of rugby and confidence will be sky high.

The side has managed to stay relatively injury-free and has the chance to blood some new and exciting prospects.Clutha’s outside backs have been benefiting from the hard work done by those inside them. Tyler Bichan, Kane Teunissen and Robin Fesilafai have scored 30 tries among them this season so far. Bichan leads the way with 13.

Flanker Kurt Turnbull, lock Scott Hollows and hooker Max Pennell have been rewarded for their good play with a spot in the Southern region Topp Cup squad.Clutha takes on bottom-of-the-table Owaka.

Owaka has been far from the easybeat of the past few seasons, scoring plenty of tries and locking away bonus points. The side has been playing well for periods of most games but just not for  long enough to win games.

Clutha should win this one with a bonus point and could possibly afford to rest players with the Topp Cup in mind.

Clutha Valley and Crescent meet in what looks to be the game of the round. Both sides played some attractive rugby in the first round.

Crescent has only had one loss to its name, against Clutha. Valley has  lost only twice, to Clutha and to Crescent back in week one. Both sides have a  smattering of  representative players and  both are coming off wins last week. Crescent beat Toko for the first time since 2012 and Valley beat Lawrence. Both teams will be confident in their ability to do the job. Crescent No8 Nick McBride and Clutha Valley centre Jonny Sargent are ones to keep an eye on.

Lawrence hosts Toko in a bottom-four battle. It is a little strange saying Lawrence and bottom four in the same breath but the team has not been performing well enough.

The Lawrence defence has been uncharacteristically poor in recent weeks, although the attack is still making things happen. A blue card to playmaker Stu Melville and injuries to key players have not helped matters. Toko’s young side has been playing some tidy football but inexperience has cost it at times during games. Young flankers Dylan Greer and Te Hiiri Ponga have put their hands up and are playing very well. This game will provide the winner much-needed confidence for the rest of the second round.

Heriot had an average first round. It won three games and is in the top four courtesy of its ability to pick up losing bonus points. Heriot travels to Clinton where it will be looking for the maximum. It beat Clinton in the first round and kept it scoreless.

Clinton has improved since then  with wins over Owaka and Toko. Heriot’s backline is clicking and looking sharp. Fijian imports Josh Tokorua and Kini Natuna are deadly with the ball in hand. Clinton is relying on some key players to carry it forward.

Centre Mark McKenzie is its go-to man when the going gets tough. Not surprisingly, he has been picked in the Topp Cup side, but as a loose forward.  Heriot should carry on its winning ways but Clinton will score points.  

- Francis Parker

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