Division one semifinals arrive
RUGBY: After 90 division one club rugby matches this season the semifinalists are ready to go to battle.
The top qualifiers Wyndham will host Ohai Nightcaps tomorrow and just four minutes drive down the road Edendale will play Riversdale.
Wyndham needed to win their last two round-robin games to win the minor premiership. Both games were physical contests that have prepared Wyndham well for playoffs.
Prop Kirk Given and centre Nicky Herbert both suffered season ending calf injuries last week but Wyndham will still field a strong lineup and will start the game as favourites.
Despite the absence of Given, Wyndham have a respectable front row with hooker Snow Kingsbury being propped up by Andy Howe, Brad Shaw, Gavin McDermott and Mike Henderson.
Wyndham have a strong middle row with Logan McDonald, Aleck Mitchell and Dean Rabbage sharing the duties.
Logan is still a youngster but is already a mountain of a man, he has also grown in confidence this season and become a destructive ball carrier. The hard hitting loose forward trio of Jayden Walsh, Jared Clark and Matt McRae are not likely to be outplayed. The Wyndham backline has three Southland Country representatives; Luke Caldwell (halfback), Hayden Diack (utility) and fullback Michael Robinson.
Robinson has also been selected in the Southland B team which will start their campaign next weekend.
Diack and Keiran Anderson have shared the first five-eighth and wing positions this season, while Herbert and captain Joe McRae have been anchors in the midfield.
With the unavailability of Her- bert some new combinations will be tested on Saturday. OhaiNightcaps went through the division two competition unbeaten last year and a had a great 2016 pre-season with up to 30 players in regular training.
The highlights of this season were the second round wins over Edendale and Riversdale, but in the last three weeks they have had a loss in Te Anau, an uninspiring win over DLS and a 43-5 loss to Waikaka last week.
Ohai-Nightcaps recent form dip has coincided with their injury crisis in the backs with flankers lining up in their midfield this week.
Ohai-Nightcaps coach Rodger Eade is sure his team are the underdogs but he did speak with some confidence when reviewing their two games played against Wyndham already this season.
‘‘We have handled their forwards easily, in fact dominated them. But both times they have cut us up in the backs.’’
In game one in April Wyndham won 21-7 and in game 10 in May Wyndham won 32-12. Edendale finished second on the competition points table and have home ground advantage over the 2015 champions Riversdale.
Both teams are well-drilled and know how to play to their strengths. Edendale has a solid pack and a skilful backline that can score long distance tries. Midfielder Jeremy McLeod and fullback Phil Brown are elusive runners and their left foot punting gives first five-eighth Jeroe Fodie options when it comes to kicking for territory. Riversdale’s success has been built on a strong forward effort, and the half’s pairing of Gavin Wilson and Willy Tree.
Coach Garth Lindsay is pleased with his teams form heading into this game.
When these sides met during round robin play the honours were shared, in May Edendale won 22-11, and early this month Riversdale won 22-20 at Waikaia.