The Otago Country club season comes to a close this weekend with the Countrywide final between Wakatipu and Clutha at the Queenstown Recreation Ground.
Both sides have been standouts in their respective competitions and this game should be hard-fought. Wakatipu had to withstand a huge challenge from Arrowtown in the Battle of the Basin last week, nailing a penalty late in the piece to seal the win. Clutha dominated Crescent to win the Southern Region final 60-12.
Wakatipu has used its size to its advantage all year and has bullied teams up front.
Its backs are just as big and have not had much problem breaking over the advantage line.
A few key players will miss this clash. Otago Country representatives Alex Williams and Kapa Moeke will both be absent and will leave big holes to fill.
Wakatipu will rely on its loose forwards to make a nuisance of themselves at the breakdown and allow the halves combination of Jossy Murry and Logan Briggs to release their outside backs well. Fullback Chris Young is key for the Wakatipu side, not only on attack with his pin-point boot but also on defence, containing the Clutha outside backs.
The Clutha side has the luxury of fielding the same starting XV which won last week. It will count on all its experience up front to hold its own at set piece, set a decent platform and allow its exciting backline to make the most of front-foot ball.
Leaders in the pack Simon Grant and Mala Saimoni stood up last week and the younger boys followed their lead and ran riot. Once again, Clutha’s outside backs had a field day. Tyler Bichan, Kane Teunissen and Robin Fesilafai all had big parts to play and will look to terrorise their opposition today.
No team has won the Countrywide Championship three years in a row. Clutha is looking to do so this weekend. What is even more impressive is that if it manages the feat, two of its victories will have been away from home.
Both these sides find themselves in this game due to their superb performances this year and whoever wins will richly deserve the plaudits of being the best team in the Otago Country region.
- Francis Parker