One club, in particular, is frustrated at losing a potential home advantage following the decision by the Central club council to hold the July 21 final in Alexandra.
It would take a major upset to remove Arrowtown (44 points) from the top of the table. With just four rounds to go, it is six points clear of Wakatipu and Clyde-Earns-cleugh, both on 38 points.
Arrowtown coach Hayden Finch said yesterday the allocation of the final to Alexandra was "a shambles".
"It's a joke. I know our whole club thinks that, but we were obviously out-voted."
The Central council comprises delegates from every club in the competition. Earlier this year, it voted to hold the final in Alexandra, regardless of the teams playing, and the decision was rubber-stamped by the Otago Country board.
Council chairman Lindsay Breen, of Alexandra, could not be contacted yesterday.
The ODT understands the move was driven by a desire to increase the profile of Central Otago rugby.
Finch had several concerns with the decision, including the financial repercussions for the top teams, with Maniototo, Wakatipu and Arrowtown all having to travel more than an hour to get to Alexandra, while Clyde-Earnscleugh had only to drive "five minutes down the road".
"The frustrating thing is they [Clyde-Earnscleugh] will be able to go there and head back to their clubrooms - Wakatipu, Arrowtown and Maniototo can't do that."
Club finances were boosted by bar takings after home games.
However, with an Alexandra final, those takings would either be down or non-existent.
Clubs would also likely have to cover the cost of buses to take the team and supporters to the game.
The other concern for Finch was helping his team find motivation to continue its winning streak. Arrowtown has lost only one game this season.
"We've qualified already - it doesn't matter if we finish first or last. That thing of trying to be the top qualifier [to get a home semi and final] has gone out the window."
Former Otago Country chairman Geoff McPhee - who resigned yesterday from the position he has held for two years - said he attended the meeting earlier this year when the decision was made.
Delegates from every club in the central competition were invited to the meetings. However, it was "not very often" all clubs were represented.
"I can see what they're trying to do - promote rugby in Central - but from the outset I had my doubts about whether it would actually work."
Otago Country deputy chairman Willis Paterson said the decision "defies logic".
"[It] is totally beyond me. That was what they wanted do to - I predicted it would come to grief and it appears that it might be.
"I think it would be even more bizarre if Alexandra did qualify in fourth position and a team like Arrowtown qualified in first position and Alex got the home final.
"We [the Otago Country board] ratified the decision, but they have been insistent over a number of years. They want more power."
Wakatipu Rugby Club president Damien O'Connell said he could see both sides of the argument.
"What they're trying to do is promote rugby. From that point of view, it's a great idea.
"The down side is if you get a home final, you miss out on the bar takings."
