Clutha has qualified first and is still on track for an unbeaten season. Clutha Valley has wrapped up second and will host third-placed Crescent in one semifinal.
Clutha will host either Lawrence or Heriot. Lawrence sits five points clear of Heriot due to the West Otago win last week.
It needs just one point this weekend against Clutha Valley to advance. Heriot travels to Owaka where only a bonus-point win will do.
Heriot also needs Lawrence to lose to Valley without a bonus point. This would give both teams equal points and Heriot would go through, due to a superior points differential.
Lawrence is at home this weekend and will have redemption on its mind after losing to Valley in the first round.
Lawrence has found form at the right end of the season and will be looking to take the fourth spot. Its set piece is back to its best and the forward pack is setting decent platforms.
The midfield combination of the Wyber brothers is causing the opposition headaches and it is capable of taking any game away from the opposition.
Rumour has it the Valley side will not be at full strength this weekend.
It is a great time to rest players with niggles now that second place is locked away. Lawrence is not favourite for this game but should get the point needed to seal fourth.
Heriot’s confidence will be low after last week so it needs to find form again this week. Owaka is still without a win but will relish the opportunity to play in front of its home crowd for the last time this season. Expect Heriot’s forward pack to stand up after its poor second half last week.
Heriot’s backs ran well but did not get enough quality ball to be dangerous. Heriot should win but has left its semifinal hopes in the control of another side.
The Eddie Scott Memorial is at stake at Kaitangata, as Crescent hosts Toko. Crescent has not been in the best form of late but sealed third with the scratchy win over Clinton last week. Toko has earmarked this game for a few weeks now and has been building nicely. It put in a good shift to beat Owaka last week.
Crescent is the favourite but Toko is not without a chance.
Clutha will host Clinton for two trophies this week. The round-robin McIntosh Cup is on the line for the last time this season and the the Helen Huddleston & George McKenzie Memorial Trophy is also on the line. Both sides will be eager to be the first to have their name engraved on it.
Clinton has played some great rugby this season but its failure to close out matches has really hurt it. Clutha should win in a canter. Look for it to blood some more new players this week.
- Francis Parker