North Otago Rugby Review
The evenness of the semi finalist in Citizens shield rugby was amply illustrated on Saturday when Valley which had been beaten (13-27) the previous week reversed that result with a comprehensive 54-36 win in the first semi final at Whitestone Contracting stadium while in the second Athletic which had been beaten by Old Boys(8-30) the previous Saturday won a place in the final with a hardfought 14-9 win on Saturday.
North Otago Rugby Review
Old Boys emerged as favourites for the Citizens Shield when it beat Athletic, 30-8 in the final round of qualifying play and in the semi finals will play fourth placed Athletic next Saturday. Excelsior handed Valley its second defeat of the season with a 27-13 win at Weston and the two sides will meet again next week in thge other semi final.In the other game Kurow finished the season with a flourish beating Maheno,46-5 at the Maheno Domain.
North Otago Rugby review
Old Boys claimed the lead in Citizens shield rugby on Saturday when it ended Valley’s eight game unbeaten run with a 20-15 win at Whitestone stadium. Athletic had to wait until the last few minutes to beat a rugged Kurow side, 20-13 while Excelsior scored seven tries in its 50-3 defeat of Maheno at the Maheno Domain.
North Otago Vs Southland
A seven try blitz with five of the tries coming in the second spell enabled Southland to beat North Otago, 50-18 at Whitestone stadium yesterday.North Otago provied rugged resistance in the first half and it was only a soft converted try late in the half that gave Southland a 17-6 halftime lead. It took Southland 22 minutes to breach the North Otago defence with hooker Jason Rutledge crossing for John Dodd to convert after Souithland had won seven phases. Dodd added a conversion to make it 10-0 before North Otago’s Jason Forrest kicked two penalties in the space of three minutes. Southland’s second try came just on halftime when North Otago moved the ball inside its own half. A pass drifting towards the touchline was batted infield by winger Ofa Fatai and Southland second five eighth Seminar Manu scooped up to race across for Dodd to convert.
