Valley, Excelsior and Athletic Marist have produced 20-odd minutes of potential against Old Boys before either lack of fitness or questionable tactics contributed to their downfalls.
Last week, Valley took the game to Old Boys with strong driving play and some strong defensive work in the first quarter before the side began to kick ball away, a tactic Old Boys relished.
Dylan Edwards, normally a midfielder, was put into the Valley hot seat with the absence of first five-eighth Mat Iwikau but the backline lacked real punch, and only Brad McKenzie was prepared to run the ball back and show any real initiative.
Valley had eager workhorses in locks Aaron Mackay and Dan Conlan, who assured Valley of some quality ball.
Prop Rob Mafileo looked fit and pulled off a wonderful tackle to halt the flying Sale Pi'i, while flanker Jake Greenslade looks a promising player in the making.
Old Boys, however, is a potent force.
The runaway leader scored nine tries, one of which came from a movement that started in the in-goal area.
Old Boys was due to play Kurow in Oamaru tomorrow but the game was cancelled following the Haka Valley tragedy.
Excelsior, which beat Athletic Marist last week, lies in fourth place, a point behind Kurow and two points behind Athletic.
Excelsior plays Valley tomorrow on the No 2 ground. On No 5, Athletic should retain second place when it meets Maheno.
North Otago coaches Barry Stevens and Kilifi Fangupo will shortly announce an enlarged squad to begin preparation for the Heartland Championship.
One warm-up game, against Southland, has already been arranged.
The squad will include players for the North Otago Development XV which has a programme of games at the end of the club season.
Old Boys utility back Inoke Naufahu is only two points away from his century of club points. Brad McKenzie took his tally to 59 and is followed by Rory Harris (46), Kayne Middleton (41) and Ben Nowell (34).
Leading try-scorers are Sami Tongotongo and Max Mapusaga, with five.
Filipo Veamatahau, Harry Frost and Sam Fleming have each scored four.
Old Boys heads the team try tally with 47 from six games followed by Kurow (19), Excelsior (18), Athletic Marist (15), Valley (12) and Maheno (6).
- Terry O'Neill
