Regional sports roundup South Otago
Clutha and Crescent will contest the final of the Southern Region rugby competition next weekend.
They have not met in a final since 1999. Clutha was far too good in its semifinal against Lawrence on Saturday, winning 5619, after being up 270 at halftime.
The Clutha forward pack set a stable platform which allowed the Clutha backs to receive front foot ball and make metres.
Clutha winger Robin Fesilafai scored four tries, making nine in the last two weeks.
He broke the first tackle every time and kept the ball alive when tackled.
Lawrence played a onedimensional game plan which was found out early. Its back three had a very torrid time of things and could not build any sort of momentum.
When Clutha gave away penalties and allowed Lawrence close to the line in the second half, it scored some nice closerange tries but it was regularly denied possession and the ball hardly found its way into the backline.
Clutha blindside flanker Simon Grant covered plenty of ground, made some nice turnovers and was a handful with the ball. He was backed up by lock Kerrod Baldwin and flanker Mala Saimoni.
The Clutha back three of Fesilafai, Tyler Bichan and Kane Teunissen scored seven of Clutha’s nine tries.
Lawrence lock Caron Jones never took a backward step on defence. Centre Hayden Wyber also had a good game but needed the ball in his hands a lot more to make a difference.
Clutha is eyeing an unbeaten season next week and its third Southern Region title in a row.
The travelling Crescent side came away with a hard fought 175 win over Clutha Valley at Clydevale.
Crescent’s first half was uncompromising up front and it took a 170 lead into halftime.
Valley scored early in the second half and looked like clawing its way back into the contest but Crescent’s defence was solid.
Even after it was reduced to 14 men when flanker Cohen Tuhou was sent to the sin bin, Valley still could not crack the defence.
Crescent will look to send coach Naylor Edwards out on a winning note in the final next weekend.
The curtainraiser for the Balclutha Nissan Trophy next week will be played between Clinton and Heriot. Clinton was handed the finals berth after Toko defaulted. Heriot’s game against Owaka was cancelled due to the weather and Heriot went through on superior points differential.