Clyde-Earnscleugh, punished for its eligibility indiscretion earlier in the season, looks like it will not quite make the cut.
As late as yesterday, there was still confusion about which teams would make the top six because of an appeal by Clyde to the Otago Rugby Football Union.
The ORFU had apparently not made its downgraded punishments ''official'', and clubs still did not know what was going to happen.
However, it was confirmed late yesterday the loss of 12 points by Clyde would stand, giving some indication about which teams would be playing in which section after this weekend.
The Otago Country Rugby Board originally imposed a sanction that would mean Clyde lost its points (19) from the first five rounds of the season.
The board also handed down two-year bans to the club's manager and assistant manager, and a year-long ban to the coach.
This was on the back of the club fielding a prop registered to another club for a game against Upper Clutha, which Upper Clutha lost by one point.
After the complaint was made, Clyde management attempted to cover up the indiscretion.
A successful appeal by Clyde meant the case was taken to the ORFU, which downgraded the suspensions to one year for the management and three months for the coach, and reduced the loss of points to 12.
It was assumed by many that this was to give the club a chance to still make the top six when the competition split.
This meant Clyde needed to win at least one of its final two matches to ensure it made the top six, or Roxburgh and Cromwell A would probably make it in instead.
The problem for Clyde is that the two matches were against Wakatipu and Arrowtown. Clyde was beaten 24-0 by Wakatipu, and faces unbeaten Arrowtown tomorrow.
So, as it stacks up, if Roxburgh beats Upper Clutha B in Wanaka, and Cromwell A has a win over Matakanui Combined in Cromwell, those two sides will go through, at the expense of Clyde. However, a loss by Cromwell A or a Clyde win would see the latter advance.
Teams in the top six at this stage are Arrowtown, Maniototo, Upper Clutha A and Wakatipu.
Draw for the final round before the competition splits: Alexandra v Wakatipu ( Molyneux Park), Clyde-Earnscleugh v Arrowtown (Clyde Domain), Cromwell B v Upper Clutha A (Anderson Park), Cromwell A v Matakanui Combined (Anderson Park), Upper Clutha B v Roxburgh (Wanaka Showgrounds), Wakatipu Wanderers v Maniototo (Queenstown Recreation Ground).
