13-06-2025
Little security for top four teams
Clutha's Sam Viliamu takes on Clutha Valley defender Regan Gillespie during the Southern Region game in Balclutha on Saturday. PHOTO: JPH SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
After the 10th round of the southern region competition, it is fair to say that the top four teams have staked their claim.
All top four sides won last weekend and have created a sizable gap between themselves and the chasing pack.
The beauty of this competition, however, is that any team can win on any given day so the top four is not yet set in stone.
Competition leaders Clutha will look to win their 11th game on the bounce as they head to Lawrence, the home side still aching for their first win of the year.
Clutha have shown their ability to start well and keep the tempo up for the duration of a game.
They have also shown their ability to finish well after giving their opposition a head-start in the first half.
Lawrence have shown glimpses of brilliance but are yet to turn them into an 80-minute performance.
The game of the round takes place at Kaitangata as fourth-placed Crescent host second-placed Toko on their club day.
There is definitely the potential for the top four positions to change place over the coming weeks with some big clashes on the horizon.
Both sides took away slim wins last weekend, and with the Eddie Scott Memorial on the line, neither side will be lacking motivation.
West Taieri host Heriot at Outram and desperately need five points to pile the pressure on the teams above them.
The home side sit in third place but can leapfrog Toko if Crescent do them a favour.
Heriot looked like a side that would trouble the top four a month ago, but the men from West Otago have hit a slump in form and head to Outram at the wrong time of the season.
Clutha Valley host Owaka in the final game of the round with the Bryan Price Trophy on the line.
This one is hard to call with both squads struggling to field 22 players due to injuries and illness.
