Cotton unimpressed by format
KAIKORAI qualified top for the Speight’s Jug final but will not get to host it.
It is one of the odd quirks of the format this season which have left coach Roger Cotton bewildered.
But then the Speight’s Jug carries very little favour with the straight shooter.
Asked if it meant anything to him at all, the reply was, well, blunt.
‘‘Nah,’’ he said.
A chuckle followed.
‘‘It hasn’t even been a focus to be honest with you. It is just rubbish.’’
‘‘Honestly, we’re in a final where we are the top qualifier and we can’t even have it at home.’’
That final will be played at Miller Park when Green Island and Kaikorai meet in round 7 of the Gallaway Trophy on June 26.
‘‘Whoever dreamed that up needs shot — there you go.’’
Cotton has basically viewed the past five weeks as an extended preseason. The points do not carry through.
But tomorrow’s game against Dunedin at Bishopscourt actually counts.
‘‘The big thing for us is we have a little bit of momentum going into the main season,’’ he said.
Kaikorai is undefeated in four games in what has been an even beginning.
The usual crew has been performing well. No 8 Christian LioWillie gets a favourable mention each week.
Hooker Henry Bell and flanker Jake Russ have made a big contribution in the tight exchanges as well.
Fullback Matt Jones has made some fine touches out wide, while George Thomas has been solid in the midfield.
First fiveeighth Ben Miller is another key player, while Pita Sinamoni will bring up 100 games for the team this week.
Prop Jonah Aoina and lock Grayson Knapp have been making their way back from injuries and will make an impact once they are fully back online.
Dunedin has had a mixed season to date. It was well beaten 3616 by Kaikorai on the opening weekend, edged by Taieri week two and upset by ZingariRichmond late last month.
But the Sharks have rebounded with wins against AlhambraUnion and Harbour.
‘‘I dare say there would have been some long faces and a lot of soulsearching after the Zingari result. But to turn around and beat Harbour is huge and AU as well, they’ve been tracking along well.
‘‘They’ve obviously improved a lot since we played them but I’d like to think we have as well. We’ll find out of Saturday.’’
In the other games, AlhambraUnion hosts Green Island at the North Ground, Harbour should be too strong for ZingariRichmond at Watson Park, and Taieri will seek to arrest a twogame slide when it plays University at the University of Otago Oval.