SEASON PREVIEW MAY 2021 - Sporty.co.nz
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SEASON PREVIEW MAY 2021
Gerard O'Brien, Otago Daily Times
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Otago Combined
2020 Finished: 12th
Last year was a challenging year for the side who were hit hard by injuries
to key players and struggled with depths in those missing positions.
Players exposed last year to this level of rugby will be well placed to
thrive in 2021.This year the Co-Ed 1st XV is comprised of mostly Taieri
College students but have gained support from Logan Park and Bayfield
who provided players to assist. Kaikorai Valley College and East Otago
High School have also supported the Co-Ed 1st XV in 2021 with multiple
players. The team this year is a mix of returning players from last year with
some fresh faces stepping up from U15's. The Co-Eds will play an elusive
style of football and try to outflank teams with skill, speed and strategy,
especially against a side that are more physical and confrontational.
Although winless in 2020, rest assured the desire and motivation for
victory burns bright in the Co-Eds in 2021.
Players to Watch –
The diligent and hard-working captain Lachie Nicholl will not stop
working from No.8. Supporting him will be a couple of dangerous outside
backs Thomas Andrews and Ollie MacKenzie who will be a force in open CAPTAIN: Lachie Nicholl
play. Player to watch is Logan Kakahi who is playing his first year of rugby.
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Waitaki Boys High School
2020 Finished: 11th
With regards to the Waitaki Boys' High School 1st XV, our captain
for 2021 is front row forward Adrian Tevao. Adrian was in the side
in 2020. He is one of nine players returning out of the 28-man
squad, so it is a relatively inexperienced side with more than half
the squad comprising Year 11 or 12 players. Having finished 11th
last season, the immediate goal is to get into the top six of the
competition following the first round. Pre-season has seen mixed
results with a win against Ashburton College along with losses to
Rangiora and Roncalli. As an inexperienced group the coaches
are looking for the boys to learn to play what is in front of them.
Players to Watch –
Player to watch would include fullback Siua Fonua, halfback
Lochie Mavor and No 8 Lotu Fifita.
CAPTAIN: Adrian Tevao
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South Otago High School
2020 Finished: 10th
The team finished 2020 with a very close loss to Wakatipu in the
bottom 4 final. This was at the end of a season in which the team
had a never say die attitude and late game comebacks were a
regular occurrence.
The 2021 South Otago Squad is full of plenty of fresh new talent
with most of the team being new to First XV rugby this year. This
year will be an opportunity to build depth in key positions. The
team will be aiming to improve on their 2020 placing and to
cause a few upsets throughout the season. The South Otago
team also includes players from Tokomairiro High School. The
team captain for 2021 is open side flanker, Lachie Shanks
Players to Watch –
Players to watch this season include dynamic inside back Ben
Smart, strong and hard running front rower Lachlan Roy and
aggressive flanker Callum Maze.
CAPTAIN: Lachie Shanks
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Wakatipu High School
2020 Finished: 9th
Wakatipu finished their season last with a bottom 4 final
win against South Otago in the bottom 4 final last year in
very close contested game. Wakatipu will look to
improve on last years bottom 4 result and push for a
middle 4 final. As a young team they will look to try and
build for this season and the seasons to come.
Wakatipu will come into this season with a never say die
attitude, they have been training hard and have shown
some serious work ethic in their training and preseason
games.
Photo not supplied
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Mt Aspiring College
2020 Finished: 8th
Coaches Gareth Howley, Craig Read, Hamish Crosbie. Manager
Moira Hughes
The highlight of the last season was beating John McGlashan 1st
XV and a tough semi-final loss to to St Kevin’s in the middle 4
playoff. Key players have now gone off to tertiary education,
which creates a great opportunity for our younger players to step
into leadership roles and get plenty of game time. The team
hopes to secure a middle four semi-final again this year.
Players to Watch –
Players to watch this season are Lachy Moore and Harry Gillespie.
Lachy is vice-captain of the side this year and had a great season
in 2020. He is a strong ball carrier and an excellent defender.
Harry is in his third year in the 1st XV. His ability to play just about
every position in the forwards makes him extremely valuable. We
expect him to lead the team with his actions and carry the ball
strongly.
CAPTAIN: Rory Read
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Otago Boys 2nd XV
2020 Finished: 7th
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Mark Pledger
Assistants: Ron Bull and Willie Tokona
Manager: Brett Challis
A young side aiming to develop players for the future.
Goal is to win the bottom six and all our traditional
interschools.
Players to Watch –
Fullback Hamish Faulks, halfback Jake Fowler and young
loose forwards Isaiah Mafi, Jordan Dale and Matt
Attenborough.
CAPTAIN: Harry McLauchlan
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St Kevins
2020 Finished: 6th
In 2020, we started the season in the Championship and
won promotion to the Premiership after the first round
and made the final of the middle four.
This year's goals are to play a good brand of rugby and
develop the players here further. To ensure the boys
enjoy the year and leave them keen to continue playing
when they leave school.
Players to Watch –
Loose forwards Anthony Docherty, Ben Kay and backs
Saluni Palaa, Asesela Ravuvu and Isaac Clunie are players
to look out for this year.
CAPTAIN: Anthony Docherty
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John McGlashan College
2020 Finished: 5th
After a long preseason focused mainly on fitness and individual skill
development the team are now excited to be preparing to play in the
season opener against Southland Boy’s in front of a home crowd at
John McGlashan College. A young team in 2021 with two thirds of the
squad made up of year 12 boys with the remainder of the squad
being year 13 players. We have also named six apprentice players
who will spend time with the team during the season to give them 1st
XV experience in preparation for the following seasons.
Players to Watch –
Max Hore, a year 11 first five is one of these apprentice players and
his preseason performances for both the 2nd XV and 1st XV have
been impressive, he is sure to see some 1st XV action in 2021. Year 12
player Mitch Morton returns for his 2nd season in the 1st XV, he was a
constant selection at lock alongside older brother Harrison in 2020
and this experience has him well placed to lead the engine room from
the start of the season. Josh Whaanga a hard running midfielder, also
a year 12 player enters his 3rd year of 1st XV rugby. Josh is an
extremely hard-working player and a great example to others around
the quality of preparation leading to quality performances. His
leadership growth has been rewarded with the co-captaincy role
alongside year 13 hard hitting flanker Thomas Larrivee.
Photo not supplied
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Dunstan High School
2020 Finished: 4th
DHS has performed consistently in the last 3 years with last year's
4th placing being their best placed finish in several years. As a
group they want to continue to develop as young men and as
players, be proud of what they do and achieve on and off the
field. They understand the expectation from their peers, their
school and the community is high, and they don't want to let
anybody down. So, if/when Dunstan apply their no excuses logic
and they remain relatively injury free our results will take care of
themselves. Drive it Dunstan.
Players to Watch –
Joshua Scobie is in his 3rd season playing for the 1st XV adds a
lot of experience and versatility to our forward pack. 1st five
Samuel Waitoa has a well-rounded skill set and he will create
havoc in oppositions defensive structures given the opportunity
CAPTAIN: Ben Johnson
| |Southland Boys
2020 Finished: 3rd (Premiership)
Southland Boys are coming off a very strong preseason that
included wins over Christchurch Boys and Kings College. This has
set the foundation for us that we can hope to carry into the
season opener against John McGlashan on Wednesday.
Will have a strong forward pack and a few sharp skilful backs who
can turn a game on its head. The Volkswagen Southland Boys
First Fifteen squad has trained hard over the past month. The
squad is local and is a mixture of youth and experience. With 6
caps returning the team has a strong leadership group which will
drive the team around the park. We are really excited to be part
of the competition and look forward to playing not only against
our traditional rivals but also new competitors.
Players to Watch –
Hooker Jack Taylor. Flanker and Captain Aaron Withy, Five eight
Kaea Nikora Balloch and midfielder Richie Kuresa
CAPTAIN: Aaron Withy
| |Kings High School
2020 Finished: 2nd
After an unbeaten Round 1 including an emphatic win against
Otago Boys, we went into the second-half of the season full of
confidence in our ability. A disappointing loss to Otago Boys in
Round 2 meant that we finished the regular season in 2nd place,
so we had to play Southland Boys in the semi-final. We managed
to win an extremely close contest but then unfortunately fell short
at the final hurdle the following week at Forsyth-Barr Stadium.
Despite losing a lot of quality Year 13's, we will be aiming to go
one step further this year. It is an exciting time to be part of sport
at King's High School with the new Hockey Turf nearly completed
and the Gymnasium development about to start. The King's High
School Rugby Programme will benefit directly from these facilities
both now and in the future.
Players to Watch –
Mahonri Auva'a (Captain), Steve Salelea, Ne'emia Vaiangina, Jay
Davis and Ben Paku.
CAPTAIN: Mahonri Auva'a
| |Otago Boys 1st XV
2020 Finished: 1st
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Regan Turoa
Assistants: Scotty Opetaia, Sean Hurley and Mike Paine
Trainer: Shawn Burrows
Manager: David Geraghty
The team grew in confidence and developed in skill, over the
course of last season. This led into the final where they played
smart, composed rugby to secure a magnificent victory.
Goals for the side in 2021…To lift the ODT Cup again setting up
a South Island final and win 6 from 6 in our traditional interschool
programme.
Players to Watch –
Captain and Number 8 Semisi Taeiloa-Tupou, Ronan Dynes, Alex
McLauchlan and Finn Hurley
CAPTAIN: Semisi Taeiloa-Tupou
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