Counties still a dark horse for Senior Division 2

By Jared Smith

After two close losses and with a Senior Division 2 semi-final looming, McCrea Scanning Counties would dearly love to pick up a Country group scalp or two in the next couple of weeks.

With a 2-3 record at the end of the Town group games, Counties finished as the highest placed team that did not qualify for the Division 1 group, being in contention right until the final round on May 21.

Meanwhile, in the ultra-tough Country group, the teams of Kelso Hunterville, Bennett’s Taihape and Utiku Old Boys had all been competitive and somewhat unlucky in specific games against the Top 3 qualifiers out of their section – leading to the conclusion one of them is going on to claim Division 2.

But don’t count out the battlers from Kaiwhaiki – ‘Town’ in classification but Country at heart.

The other teams from their original group have gone by the wayside in Division 2 – the Border Seniors folding their season while the Marist Buffalos remain winless, including losing to Counties in both rounds.

But travelling away for their toughest games, Counties came back to win both second halves against Hunterville and Taihape, just falling short at 20-15 and 14-10.

Safe for the playoffs in third currently on bonus points and a positive differential, Counties still feel they have a mark to make when they host Utiku Old Boys at MacNab Domain to complete the round robin.

Captained by forward James Marshall and coached by Richard Shaw, Counties have retained most of their young squad from 2021, including a front row in their early 20’s.

“They’ve come back [and] got a few young ones in newer positions,” said team manager Johnny Butson.

“We’re just out of it. I think there wasn’t much difference in it – we only just lost to Hunterville, just lost to Taihape.

“All the players are doing an excellent job. Looking forward to all of this [next fortnight].

“For these boys, it’s the first time we’ve made a semi.”

Counties would have dearly loved to play some of the other clubs they have fun rivalries with – such as virtual cousins JJ Walters Marton – but that wasn’t to be under the 2022 format.

But home this weekend in front of their beloved supporters, who park the trucks up beside the sidelines, Counties are looking forward to trying to get some payback on Utiku, who beat them soundly 43-3 last year.

The draw is

Senior (1pm kickoffs unless noted, times subject to change):

Division 1

Celtic vs Kaierau, Racecourse No1 (2.35pm); Ruapehu vs Ratana, Rochfort Park; Pirates vs Marton, Spriggens Park.

Division 2

Counties vs Utiku Old Boys, MacNab Domain (2pm); Buffalos vs Taihape, Racecourse No1; Bye: Hunterville.