Woodlands club has big weekend to look forward to
THERE is a big weekend ahead for the Woodlands club as it looks to get back into contention in the top grade.
The club’s premier and senior B teams will play games at home tomorrow, and on Sunday afternoon the club will host the three games in the Southland senior women’s rugby competition.
With the wet weather Southland has experienced this week, the drainage work and regrassing the club undertook on its field over summer will be tested.
The Woodlands premier team will be looking to continue its resurgence in the Galbraith Shield Competition tomorrow against the Eastern Northern Barbarians.
Woodlands beat Blues 2012 last week, while the Barbarians also put in a season’s best performance last week when beating Star 3610.
Marist is unbeaten in 2019 and should retain that record against Blues at Miller St tomorrow. Star and Pirates Old Boys will meet at Waverley Park — both teams are desperate for a confidence boosting win.
In the Premier B Competition, Te Anau will be celebrating its club day tomorrow. All of the club’s junior schoolboy teams have home games and the Rippa rugby players will kick the day off at 11.30am.
The senior team is expected to have a fullstrength team available for its match against Edendale.
Te Anau coach Dale Wairau is ruing its 2219 loss to Wyndham last week.
‘‘Again we let another game slip — we put a number of phases together and dominated the set pieces, but wrong options were taken and Wyndham capitalised on our mistakes,’’ he said.
Waikaka earned its first win of the season last week when it beat Edendale. Waikaka has another home game tomorrow against Midlands.
Midlands coach Dayna Cunningham was pleased with last week’s win over Riversdale.
‘‘Our guys fronted well against the best forward pack in our comp. There were a lot of good performances, but our halfback Ben McKerchar distributed well and made very good decisions. First fiveeighth Henry Earland had some moments of individual brilliance to score a couple of tries,’’ he said.
Riversdale hosts the top ranked Wyndham team.
In the seventh round of the division one competition Mossburn will host Star B. Mossburn now sits fifth on the points table behind Pioneer, Blues B, Waikiwi and Albion Excelsior.
Blues B has the division’s other top dog, Pioneer, to deal with at Balmoral. Waiau is at Waikiwi tomorrow. Albion hosts Wakatipu this week.
In division two, Riverton hosts Tokanui at 7pm tonight.
The inform DLS hosts Mataura at Limehills. Collegiate is scheduled a home game against Bush Pirates tomorrow. Bluff is focused on Marist B at Miller St. Ohai will host Blues, otherwise known as Blues thirdranked senior team. Woodlands B is looking to regain winning form at home against POB B.