Matt Clutterbuck: Alhambra-Union
Alhambra-Union captain Matt Clutterbuck is a natural leader who brings success to teams he is leading, but he does not know how it happens.
Clutterbuck (23), a commerce student at the University of Otago, gained his reputation when he led Alhambra-Union to its first championship win two years ago.
"I have no secret and have no idea how I do it," Clutterbuck said yesterday.
"I just have a good bunch of guys around me. They are always there and they keep me going."
Clutterbuck knows Alhambra-Union has a team capable of winning the banner.
"But in a final it's the team that fronts up on the day that wins," he said.
"You can never claim to be the favourite.
"We bombed out in the semifinals last year. It is good to give it another crack this year."
It was a young Alhambra-Union pack that won the banner two years ago.
"They have now matured a bit and have started to harden up," he said.
Clutterbuck has adopted a practical approach to his teams preparation for the final.
"We have not changed anything this week," he said.
"You don't want to throw anyone out of kilter or routine."
Alhambra-Union has won its past five matches and the team has grown in confidence with each game.
It was a proud moment for Clutterbuck when he carried the Speight's championship shield into the Northern Oaks clubrooms two years ago.
"It was satisfying and rewarding. It gave me a lot of pride," Clutterbuck said.
It was special for the club because Alhambra-Union,was only formed in 1987 and it was the first time the club had won the banner.
"It meant lot to the team and the club as a whole," Clutterbuck said.
"It will mean as much this year as it did two years ago."
"The team has grown this year and come together well at the right time of the year. We are starting to peak now. But we still have one more hurdle to overcome.
"The team that wants it the most will come out on top."
Scott McKee: Dunedin
Dunedin captain Scott McKee is not fazed by today's club final.
This is his third in four years of premier club rugby.
McKee (22), a builder, helped carry the Speight's championship shield back to the Dunedin clubrooms when University A was beaten 19-12 in 2005.
"There is a lot of pride to get to the final," McKee said yesterday.
"To take the shield home would be outstanding. The boys have worked really hard over the last six weeks. But there is still one more hurdle to go."
Dunedin has been on the knife edge for the past five weeks and has had to keep winning and adding bonus points just to make the final six.
"We were going up and down early in the season and lost more games than we should have,"McKee said.
"But the boys were always confident and we have shown over the last month that we can play good footy.
"We have been playing as a unit for the last six weeks and this will get us through. Before that we were playing too much as individuals."
The Dunedin pack has performed as a unit all season and the introduction of Sam Scown to the midfield has given the backline more oomph.
He used his strength to score two tries in the semifinal win against University A.
"The backs have come on in leaps and bounds and have got more confidence in themselves," McKee said.
Scown, who comes from Wanganui, is the nephew of former All Black Alistair Scown and is a cousin of former Olympic rower Sonia Waddell (nee Scown), who is married to Rob Waddell.
It is McKee's third final and he knows what to expect.
"It seems to go really fast," he said.
"It seems just like 15min and it is half-time.
"The atmosphere is electric and it is an exciting game to play in."
McKee grew up on a sheep and cattle farm at Waikaia in Southland and his rugby skills developed when he was a boarder at Otago Boys High School.
His parents, Malcolm and Carol, will drive the 2hr 15min from the farm to watch the final at Carisbrook.
They alternate between Dunedin and Southland to watch their sons' rugby.
Tyler (19) plays for Riversdale.
