It is the battle of two Taieri clubs in Middlemarch tomorrow as Strath Taieri hosts West Taieri in the final of the Dunedin senior competition. Two former first-class players - Mat O'Connell (Strath Taieri) and Ash Barron (West Taieri) - will be involved. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to them.
Hepburn: How has the season gone and who has the inside running for tomorrow's game?
O'Connell: We have been trucking along pretty well. We have got some quite young backs here who are keen and we end up playing quite an expansive game. We have played them twice before this season. Once early on, when they won, and we won up here a few weeks ago.
Barron: We've been going OK, and it is going to be a big game this weekend. I think it is good for the grade that there are a couple of country teams there. Strath have been there before and now we are there.
Hepburn: What do you love about playing for your clubs?
O'Connell: It is where rugby starts. It is great for the community and you get a lot of support. We only train once a week. There was talk about having a Tuesday training this week but it didn't happen.
Barron: I have been out here six years now. I came out here to build a house and the local club was down the road, so I joined. Tuesday nights, the younger guys tend to get along to trainings, but Thursdays is more when the whole team is there. It is a decent standard of rugby. You get a lot of guys who have played premier, who are a bit older but still want to keep playing.
Hepburn: Brad Thorn is still playing Super 15 at 38. You guys are just juniors compared with him. How is the body holding up?
O'Connell: The mind is willing but the body is not. I just enjoy being involved. I am just there for moral support, really. Lately, I have not played that much. Just coming on for the last 10 to 15 minutes to do what I can.
Barron: I am just hanging in there. It is not getting any easier. If you ask the guys I work with, on a Monday it is pretty slow. I'm still playing first five-eighth. It is the only position I know. I'm not quick or big enough to play anywhere else.
Hepburn: Who is going to be buying the drinks tomorrow night?
O'Connell: There will be a big crowd there and plenty of local support. If Strath wins, there will be plenty of volunteers to buy the drinks.
Barron: It is going to be a good game of rugby. It will be about keeping your discipline. They are going to have plenty of support but we won't lack for that. We're taking a busload up.
Mat O'Connell (36), played 24 games for Southland and 11 games for Otago as a loose forward. A farmer at Macraes, he is married with four children. Ash Barron (35), played 25 games for Southland. A builder in Outram, he is married with two children.
