The Wrap
It’s too early to be alarmist but there were some big scores on the opening weekend. AU (The Onion) and GI (The Spannerheads) both got unceremoniously dumped. But just breathe and see how it plays out. Kaik put 50 plus on GI with a green-looking side captained by a young Charlie Marsh, but they look a serious top-4 contender. Varsity nearly hit 80 against AU with wing Jeremiah Asi cashing in with four tries, so they look at this stage a definite playoff contender. Dunedin (The Sharks) was too strong up front against Southern (The Magpies), but it was a good season opener between two sides that should be looking at top 4 spots in mid July. Taieri (The Eels) raced away in the second spell over Zingari (The Colours). But the Colours were up at halftime in a promising opener for them and their newly minted Prem Colts side threw everything at the Dunedin Mako (the defending champs) in a close loss pre-Easter.
Other Grades — Permutations and Predictions
In women’s premier last years finalists Dunedin and Big River look to be the powerhouses. In Prem II it’s too early to make predictions, but Kaik and Dunedin might be the early favs — we will know more after this weekend. The Prem Colts grade doesn’t look as strong as previous years and we only have seven teams, which should be a warning for all clubs. If you don’t have a competitive Prem Colts side it is very hard to keep your Premier team competitive as well. The grade looks to have tightened up a lot but perennial finalists Dunedin and Kaik should be there when the whips are cracking, as will Taieri. I’ll be looking at Harbour, Zingari, and The Blues with interest over the next couple of weeks. But what is happening in the populous Junior Colts grade? What are the numbers telling us? We are down a couple of teams so the numbers are falling slightly. There has been plenty of comment from clubs saying Kaik and Dunedin have got too many players, and are dominating proceedings. Yes, they do have five teams between them out of 11. Why? Well simply put, they work extremely hard in the recruitment space. Environment, reputation, results are strong factors as to the why! It can be done — look at Zingari and Harbour this year, and Taieri are perennial achievers in the colts space. It’s time for clubs to stop moaning and replicate what the achievers are doing — it’s not that hard, but it’s a lot of work! Here endeth The Sermon.
Tell me it isn’t true?
Normally the rifts and squabbles emanate from Kaik, but the baton may have passed to the Sharks. My spies tell me three of the clubs "real heavies" were unaccounted for on opening weekend. The word is the bar manager and Dunedin’s most expensive plumber, the president and former deputy chair of Otago Rugby and the club mouthpiece and the Rupert Murdoch of radio in the South were all having a mid-life crisis on a hunting foray. There is talk the current club "tyros" are thinking of rescinding their "life memberships". To be fair, Dunedin have too many anyway!
This Weekend
What a start to the season with not one blemish on the card. Poor old ‘Red’ from GI started his year with a big negative. On to Harbour’s Brian Greer and this only goes one way! The Eels (12-) travel to Port to take on the Hawks at the Albacore Arena and considering this is the Harbour boys’ first gallop, the Eels should prevail, but there could be fireworks. Southern (13+) will just be too strong across the park against GI. Kaik (12-) should be too strong all round for Varsity at the Bookworm Bowl. But it should be tight for 60 minutes. The Sharks (13+) will be basking in the Sandpit and should comfortably account for AU. It’s down to South Otago this week and after destroying Jamie White last week, I’m indestructible. On to Clinton president John Cleghorn so I’m expecting the same. West Taieri (13+) should put Heriot to the sword away to stay unbeaten. Clutha Valley (12-) are away to Toko and I’m expecting a better performance from the Prison Guards but Clutha take the points. I’ll go with the home team Clinton (12-) to just beat Crescent at the Coalmine in the upset but it will be close. Lawrence (12-) even though travelling ordinary, will just get it done and pip Owaka
