Green Island grabbed all the plaudits, all the trophies and the favourites tag when they demolished former high-flyers Dunedin at the Toolbox at the weekend.
They got their hands on the Gallaway and the Speight’s Shield and they are firm favourites to go all the way to the banner. Dunedin’s meek surrender saw them finish third, but on the same points as Kaik. Southern were too strong for Kaik at home, with McKenzie Palmer once again being the star of the show, and they’ll be confident of reaching yet another final.
Zingari confirmed fifth spot with a comfortable win over AU and a place in the quarters and it’s been 20 plus years since we have said that. Cellar dwellers Harbour were just too big for a gallant Taieri outfit at Port Chalmers to finish seventh. AU and Taieri fill the bottom two spots, with the Ponies chewing on the spoon.
So what now? At 2pm tomorrow, GI host sixth placed Varsity, Southern host Zingari at Bathgate and Dunedin are at home to Kaikorai at Shark Park.
Why have we got this so wrong?
I said last week I was staggered we had purposely signed a winger from Aussie and just ignored our local talent, and asked where the money was coming from.
Otago rugby chief executive Richard Kinley responded in the ODT this week, saying they had signed no-one but were looking. He backed that up by saying they felt no-one was up to the standard required and asked if it would be a safety issue. He also said they had discussed it with the Highlanders recruitment team, and they were all on the same page.
My spies in the Highlanders camp tell me they were livid with comments attributed to them coming out of the Otago camp. I said last week I hoped the news of the signing was not true. But I’m sticking with what I’ve heard — there is an Aussie winger joining the Otago squad. He may not have physically signed, but is on his way.
How have the board allowed this to happen? They talk about grassroots and pathways for players, but this totally flies in the face of that. It sends a terrible message. Grassroots rugby followers have already voted with their feet on attending NPC rugby, and this won’t help. Please wake up and sort this!
Down on the farm
In the North, where as you know rugby is not played very often, there is one game this weekend — go figure! Valley are at home to Kurow to find out who takes on Excelsior in next weekend's final. Nobody can pick a winner up there, but if Parker and Faddes somehow turn up for Kurow, they’ll win. If not, take the home side.
In the deep South, form team Star take on Woodlands in one semifinal. Star are the overwhelming favourites, but if the real Woodlands side turns up look out. Star just. In the other semi, Pirates Old Boys take on the Barbarians and it could go either way. Old Boys got thrashed last week by Star, but I’m tipping them to bounce back and make the final.
In South Otago, it’s the last round robin game. The top four has been confirmed, but the order is up for debate. I’m tipping the final four in order will be Crescent, West Taieri, Clutha, Clutha Valley.
In Central, Upper Clutha, Wakatip and Alex are confirmed in that order. The Maggots and Cromwell are tied in fourth spot. I’m tipping the Maggots will beat Arrowtown and Cromwell to lose to Upper Clutha, thus the Maggots will make the semis next weekend.
Other grades
Colts rugby is on hold as it is most of the time, but we are in quarterfinal mode in both Prem 2 and Senior Rugby. The Prem 2 quarters are at high noon, and the Senior quarters are at 2pm. In P2s, the top three sides look to be Kaik, Dunedin and GI and they should all make it into the semis, with Zingers making it as the highest placed loser.
In the Senior Grade, Taieri, Kaik and GI are the top three sides and should progress through to the semifinals. In fact, GI are already through, as the Dunedin Tigers have already defaulted to them in the quarterfinal. Now this is bizarre — what is going on there?
On finals day, which is July 20, the final of these two grades are being played as curtain raisers to the Prem final at the Stadium. I understand Taieri are "filthy" about this as they wanted the final to be at the home of the top qualifying club — which they currently are. Get over yourselves lads!
This weekend
Destroyed "Sneds" last weekend, even though I only picked two from four! On to Mike Coggan from Otago Cricket, so I do it in a canter.
GI take on Varsity (12-) at the Toolbox and should go in as favourites. But I smell an upset here, as GI have lost a couple of props and Varsity put them to the sword a couple of weeks ago – Varsity just.
Southern (13+) are peaking at the right time and should easily send Zingari packing at Bog Bathgate. Dunedin are at home at the Sandpit and have had the wood on Kaik this year. Both these sides got "toweled" up last week and I’m picking Dunedin (12-) to bounce back the better.
Got beaten in the Country by Logan Dowling from the Maggots, but it was close and I will bounce back against Kent Duncan for West Taieri, who has played, presided and club captained the "Pigs". I’m picking Lawrence (12-) will win away to Heriot. I’m thinking Clinton (12-) visit the Prison Lawn and come away with chocolates over Toko. Clutha (13+) visit Owaka and thrash the home side. Crescent (12-) will get it done over Clutha Valley and go into the semis as top qualifier.
