So, after five or six rounds where are our various prem comps in Otago at?
Let's start with the big one in town. Varsity has rather surprisingly got off to a flyer and leads the comp by three from Taieri but is yet to have the bye. Taieri is the only unbeaten club but has had a draw against Harbour. Remember, you need just on 50 points to make the four so you would have to say both sides are certainties to make it. On form, Taieri should win it all but as there are no Otago players playing in the last two weeks the Eels are no racecourse certainty to win it all as they could lose five or six. Dunedin lies third but there is only a five-point spread of the middle tier which also includes Southern, Harbour and Kaik. At this stage, I have Dunedin making it but it is too close to call the fourth team in the top four.
In North Otago, the comp is already over and Old Boys goes undefeated for the year. In South Otago, Clutha wins the whole shooting box in a canter. The rest of the comp looks a lot closer and it is too close to call which sides make up the four. In Central, Wakatipu leads the comp and I have it down as a Wakatip v Upper Clutha final with Arrowtown and Cromwell making up the four.So there, that wasn't too hard but I'll keep you updated on progress.
Schools v clubs
Have had, as expected, much feedback on last week's piece on whether clubs should control junior players from under-14 to under-18 level apart from first XV rugby. I've had responses from clubs and schools in Central Otago, South Otago and Southland as well as Dunners. A couple of co-ed schools in town have served me up on toast and the three big rugby schools in town, as you would expect, have been silent. The one obvious thing is there is no answer that fits all. I'll be talking to various heavies in the next few weeks so this is only the beginning of the crusade!
Defaults
Lawrence defaulted because of a shortage of front rowers. Matak defaulted in Central because of the same problem but still played Clyde in a non-counting game and won. Question: wouldn't it be better if both clubs agreed to play the game for real with golden oldie scrums rather than canning the game? Let common sense prevail! A little bird tells me the Jenkins clan isn't too popular at Matak. Jeremy is coach and went hunting rather than head to the Clyde domain at the weekend and his brother, Ben, although slightly out of shape, could possibly have fronted up in the engine room. I suspect the old man, Noel, may have had his fingers in the action as after parting ways mysteriously with Shark prem IIs a couple of years ago. In town, the Harbour senior side defaulted for a third time and could be gone - I hope not.
Some other bits
Ian Taylor's son, Ben, was covering the Masters at Augusta dragging cables around the pristine fairways - the dream job right? He says to the old man halfway through the tourney he's got to go and Ian asks incredulously why? Ben replies: "I've got to get back to practise for the Sharks!" Ben is a halfback in the Sharks prem squad - now that is dedication!
Ref supremo Harty turned out in the Hawks v Spannerhead prem game at the weekend and had a troubled night's sleep on Friday night as he worried about his ability to keep up (and rightly so!). He was overcome with joy when he heard the rain pounding on his roof at 5am on Saturday.
Congrats to Rob Wells, ref and school teacher, for chalking up his 100th game this weekend. I was out at West Taieri last Saturday building a few bridges and spotted Pirates stalwart Dave Callon schmoozing close to the bar - it's a long way to go to watch a decent game mate! Remember the GI Heritage Day at the Toolbox tomorrow and it is up against the Onion so get along. Have a look at ODT Rugby Chat on the ODT website for more info.
Finally, condolences go out to the family of Steve Rabbette who died last Saturday. "Rab" was a stalwart of the Alhambra-Union as a player, a coach and an administrator. He was a good man and was never backward in coming forward - go well mate, you'll be missed.
This weekend
Unbelievably thrashed by Leigh Felix-Hotham, of AU, last weekend and I picked two results for him - you don't get a bigger loser than me! On to Josh Renton from Kaik this week so surely I'm back. Varsity (13+) at home will be all over Zingers like a rash. The Eels (12-) at home will be too big and strong for the under-performing mountain men from Kaik. The Sharks (12-), back from the bye to their beloved Sandpit, may just get it done over the Magpies but it is tight. The Spannerheads (13+) at the Toolbox AU to the uprights.
- Paul Dwyer