Try time: Ōtorohanga Golds number eight Sivamiolo Lumelume powers over to score against Morrinsville. Photo Lorraine Fox
The top five is within reach for Ōtorohanga Golds.
A fortnight ago, they picked up a hard-fought 32-25 win over Matamata at Island Reserve, while last weekend they were too strong for Morrinsville at Campbell Park.
It was their third successive win and takes them to 23 points on a congested table.
One win from their next three games should be enough, although if United Matamata Sports and University of Waikato can string together three straight victories, then anything could happen.
Coach Hutana Coffin was pleased with Saturday’s showing against Morrinsville.
“It was difficult. The referees were making things difficult for us at times. The guys, to their credit, hung tough and managed to get a good win.
“Morrinsville and Matamata were both tough; they were teams that needed to win, and those games are never easy.”
The Golds were without a few key figures against Morrinsville, but Coffin said it was nice to give others a crack.
“Illness and injury meant we were missing some key players, but it gave a chance for some others, and they did well.
“We hung tough and got the victory. Something we couldn’t quite do last year was win the close games, so that was pleasing for us.”
Close has been something of a common factor for the Ōtorohanga team this year, with their biggest winning margin a 22-point victory away from home against Melville.
The rest of their games have seen four wins by seven points or less, and a six-point loss.
Coffin said the pleasing thing was they were hanging tough in contests and coming out on top.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best rugby yet.
“We haven’t hit our straps. We’ve got a lot more to offer, and hopefully in the next few weeks we can play some good rugby.
“Our set piece and running with the ball has been strong; at times we’ve just let ourselves down with errors and discipline.”
He hopes this weekend they will be close to full strength for the trip to Fraser Tech, a game their opponents simply need to win.
“They will be dangerous. We cannot afford to take them lightly. They haven’t played as well as they will have hoped this year, but they are certainly going to be a tough game for us, all of them are.”
In the victory over Matamata, Golds had five different players score their six tries: Winger Tevita Madrai picked up a double, Sivamiolo Lumelume, Paulo Sione, Kauri Coffin and Hamish Clapcott all dotted down, and Dominic Clapcott kicked a conversion.
Against Morrinsville it was number 8 Lumelume who again found his way across the line with his second-half effort getting them home.
Te Amo Wilbore also showed his class, stepping in for Dominic Clapcott in the victory and kicking two penalty goals and a conversion.
Meanwhile, the Blues have had a mixed couple of weeks on the paddock.
They ran out impressive 61-7 winners over Matamata, while last weekend they fell to a 22-16 loss to Morrinsville, however, they were down on personnel for the contest.
With the tight nature of their competition, they now sit fourth with 18 points but over the next three weeks face the teams in eighth, first and third positions.
Ōtorohanga’s women’s team returned to winning ways with a 26-15 win over Hamilton Marist, coming on the back of a 27-5 loss to Kihikihi, who featured Waikato players Chyna and Carla Hohepa, among others.
This weekend they are at home at Island Reserve and facing eighth-placed Putaruru.
