An 83-7 loss to Rangiora High School on Saturday was one of the low points of Mid Canterbury Combined’s 2019 UC Championship rugby campaign.

With only two games to go in this year’s competition the side were yet to pick up a win, and the latest loss in Rangiora was one of the more frustrating in the eyes of the side’s coaches Brent Middleton, Andrew Morgan and Warren Donald.

“The boys probably threw in their worst performance of the year, to be honest they were really disappointing and the three coaches were really disappointed with them,” Middleton said.

“They didn’t front up at all, you felt like they might as well have still been sitting on the bus.”

Middleton said the first half was particularly tough, and while things did improve somewhat in the second half, the damage was already done with Rangiora leading 54-7 at half-time.

“At the end of the day, that Rangiora side are a very good side.”

While Mid Canterbury Combined had given away a lot in size to some of the powerhouse schools in the Crusaders secondary schools’ rugby zone this season, Rangiora weren’t all that different when it came to size.

But, they were a very well drilled side.

“They played a very good brand of football and you could see why they are sixth on the table,” Middleton said.

Mid Canterbury Combined did create some opportunities, but all too often took the wrong option.

“It was a tough game for the fact that we know we are better than that,” Middleton said.

With just two rounds to go, life wasn’t about to get any easier for Mid Canterbury Combined as they well and truly stared down the barrel of a second win-less season on the trot.

This weekend they were off to Christchurch to take on a St Bede’s College side that was currently sitting third on the table, and in the last round they were off to Nelson to take on the table topping Nelson College side.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 30 July 2019