Coach not convinced

WEST Taieri was undefeated last season and it has strung together five consecutive wins this season.

But if you ask coach Ash Barron, the side is just hanging in there.

It seems an overly harsh analysis. But Barron is convinced the team is not playing as well as it can and there are some big games ahead.

The first of those bigger challenges is tomorrow’s game against Clutha Valley, at Outram. It is a repeat of last year’s final.

Clutha Valley is also undefeated this season, with four wins from four games.

‘‘We’re hanging in there. I think the next couple of week will be the big test for us,’’ Barron said when asked about the winning streak.

‘‘We’ve got the highflying Clutha Valley and then Heriot, who seem to be going really well.

‘‘We are still getting the job done but not without a lot of hard work. And we’ve picked up a number of injuries as well.’’

West Taieri has a good core of players who have been together for a long time and that experience has served it well so far.

But West Taieri has had an easier run than Clutha Valley and has not really been tested yet.

It will be missing some key players for the clash.

Midfielder Kelly Moore injured his shoulder and has been ruled out for the season.

Utility back Pat Hamer is out for four weeks with a rib complaint, while loose forward Connor Jenkins will be sidelined for a similar period with a knee issue.

West Taieri’s strength, though, is up front and it will look to gain control through the set pieces.

Frontrower Ethan Hippolite and locks Ben Davidson and Steve Green are key to that game plan, while halfback Jackson Reid and pivot Callum Smeaton will provide the direction.

‘‘We know we are in for a real challenge and we will find out where we are at. I don’t think we are anywhere near where we were at this time last year,’’ Barron said.

‘‘We definitely have not been training like we were, so it will be interesting to see what mindset the boys are in when they show up.’’

THE focus in Central Otago club rugby this weekend swings away from the Cromwell Goats and Upper Clutha and on to battlers Maniototo and Alexandra, who face challenging matches against formidable opponents Wakatipu and Arrowtown.

Maniototo has the home advantage against Wakatipu. In 2019, it stole the White Horse Cup from Queenstown and last year it stretched Wakatipu to 3023. No teams find it easy at Ranfurly. “It’s a classic farm boys versus townies encounter,” Wakatipu coach Brett Anderson said.

Wakatipu goes into the game without its standout hooker Jake McEwan, who is carrying an injury from the Arrowtown game. His replacement is Ross Henderson, who wore the No 6 jersey last Saturday.

Maniototo is coming off a frantic win against Matakanui Combined, clinching victory in the 81st minute with a Jack Wild penalty.

Maniototo has the same core of players as last year but has been struggling to put phases together.