Break rests players for Country Day
THE Central Otago premier rugby competition takes another break this weekend to allow the players that will be representing Central Otago at Country Day in Alexandra to have a break before their big clash on Monday.
It will also allow the teams to regroup in preparation for the final push towards the playoff end of the competition.
With six rounds to go before the semifinals, there are two teams heading the field so far that look oddson to contest the final.
Wakatipu (36) and Upper Clutha (35) have just a solitary point separating them, which has been the case for most of the 2018 season, and it would take a big form reversal to change that.
Wakatipu, the defending champion, has an impressive 436 points for and only 104 points against record with a differential of 332. At times it has looked unstoppable.
Upper Clutha continues to have the best defensive record in the competition, conceding just 85 points, 10.6 per game.
White Horse Cup holder Cromwell (28) has headed Arrowtown (28) on points differential to take third spot on the ladder but has struggled to put an 80minute performance together to make it a serious contender.
Arrowtown, for its part, was well in the hunt for a topthree finish but that fell apart last weekend when it was tipped over by Maniototo (21) at the Queenstown Event Centre.
Clyde Earnscleugh (11), Matakanui Combined (4) and Alexandra (4) have all struggled so far this season for one reason or another but the big guns will underestimate these proud clubs at their peril.
While they may be out of contention for the playoffs, even at this early stage each is more than capable on its day of damaging the chances of the leading lights.
Each has a proud history and helps represent the true heartland of provincial rugby, has loyal supporters, and will strive to tip over its opponents higher on the table.
On Monday, Alexandra will host the 2018 edition of Country Day.
On this once proud traditional day, games used to be played between Vincent, Maniototo, West Otago and South Otago at the home of the Topp Cup holder. Then, in later years, the Metropolitan A and B sides were included.
At the completion of the games, the Country selectors named their sides for the annual Town v Country game, which was essentially an Otago trial.
With the demise of the West Otago and Maniototo competitions, the Topp Cup is played between Central Otago and South Otago.
In the 2018 version of Country Day, eight games from U13 level through to the senior Topp Cup game will be played, including a girls’ rep game.
Games will get under way at 11am at Molyneux Park and Dunstan High School, and the Topp Cup will kick off at 2.30pm.