Must-win for Heriot versus Toko

This weekend has match-ups which are pivotal to the final outcome of the season.

Heriot and Lawrence have potentially winnable games but both games could also produce banana-skin results if the teams are not careful.

Heriot is sitting in fourth by the skin of its teeth.

It dropped points last week at Clutha Valley and allowed Lawrence to come five points closer with a bonus-point win over Clinton.Heriot hosts Toko this weekend in a must-win clash for it.

Toko is something of a bogey side for the West Otago team and if Heriot wants a favourable semifinal draw, maximum points is a must.

Heriot’s game plan is rock solid but its execution of the game plan is dusty. It makes too many errors for a side looking to cement itself in the top four.

Toko lost to Clutha last week but should have confidence, having already beaten Heriot this season.

Lawrence travels to Owaka and will be desperate for the bonus-point win.

It knows travelling to Owaka is never easy and it will be made to work for its results.

Lawrence looked almost back to its best last week against Clinton and is beginning to look like the Lawrence of old.

The backline is starting to gel again and the forward pack is getting good front-foot ball.

Owaka is its own worst enemy at times.The side has shown ability to score tries this year but of late seems to be panicking in the attacking third and is making silly errors. If Lawrence lets its form slip an upset could be on the cards.

Clutha is hosting Crescent in the game of the round. Crescent provided the unthinkable upset in Clutha last year and is looking to repeat the feat.

Crescent has not been travelling as well as it would have liked but it had a confidence-boosting win over Owaka last weekend. Clutha is looking as ominous as ever and will not want to drop points to the old foe, even though a home semifinal is all but secured.

Clinton is hosting Clutha Valley under the watchful eye of the Grassroots rugby team, which is filming the game tomorrow.

Clinton had patches of brilliance against Lawrence last week but could not produce it for long enough. Clutha Valley is flying high and is odds-on for second win, unless it slips up. This match has the potential to be close but the Valley boys are likely to be too strong. 

- Francis Parker

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