Waiau’s bid for top four spot marred by injuries

Waiau Star have been the surprise package in Southland’s division one club rugby competition this year.

The Gerry Adams-coached team are still in contention to qualify for the top four but their task has been made more difficult in recent weeks with season-ending injuries to some key players.

Almost unbelievably there have been three Waiau Star players suffer broken legs since the middle of May.

Prop Pete Van Dam and midfielders Harley McKenzie and Kieran Bonieface are all sidelined.

McKenzie broke his leg playing for Western against Pirates-Old Boys, Bonieface broke his against DrummondLimehills-Star and Van Dam a fortnight ago against Waikaka.

Leg injuries have also sidelined Blayne de Vries, Cody de Vries and Matthew Low for various periods of the second round.

Prop forward Pete Van Dam had been one of the standout players in the division this year. His scrummaging power and robust ball carrying was creating momentum for his team.

Club spokesman Blayne de Vries is confident that Waiau still have something to offer.

‘‘We were always going to miss Pete last week against Edendale (lost 22-13) but we still felt we had enough of an arsenal to get it done, but we just weren’t as hungry as they were.’’

‘‘We started poorly and they profited from our errors. We had our opportunities but didn’t cross the line when we needed too.’’

With only two weeks remaining in the second round Waiau Star are in fourth position on the competition points table on 34 points. They are yet to play the highly rated Wyndham and Midlands teams.

Wyndham are unbeaten this season on 46 competition points and will roll into Tuatapere on Saturday as clear favourites.

Wyndham’s 38-10 win last week over Waikaka was one of their better all-round team performances this year. Wyndham are the only team already assured of a spot in the top four at this stage.

Edendale (38) are in second place on the points table and will be looking to bank maximum points when Drummond-Limehills-Star arrive at the factory town.

DLS (21) are the only team out of top four contention. Edendale only scored three tries against Waiau last week and the bonus points are likely to prove crucial in such a tight competition.

Te Anau have home ground advantage against Riversdale on Saturday. Both teams are on 30 competition points.

Te Anau are coming off bonus point wins over Edendale and DLS while Riversdale have lost their last two games.

Although Riversdale are not yet performing at the level of their previous two seasons they do have two winnable games left in this round.

Waikaka (31) need to beat Midlands (37) on Saturday if they want to make the top four.

The Waikaka forwards had Wyndham under pressure at the set-piece and through their rolling mauls and this will be the area they target their Winton visitors.

Midlands have won their last three games against Te Anau, DLS and Riversdale. Midlands have been doing enough to win in recent weeks but coach Dayna Cunningham is confident there is more left in the tank.