Josh Dunlea in action for the Combined side. Photo supplied.The table may say one win apiece, however there are contrasting tribulations this year for Timaru Boys’ High School and Mid Canterbury Combined.

The two sides meet in the UC Championship today, and while the South Cantabrians should be firm favourites at home, the mental toll on the side following a series of tough defeats against the big Christchurch schools could be a factor.

Mid Canterbury Combined however is a young team full of enterprise, despite being smacked around for the majority of the season.

They did notch a gutsy competition win a fortnight ago against fellow strugglers Roncalli-Aoraki Combined, however they were brought crashing back down to earth last weekend against St Thomas’.

Timaru meanwhile completed a resounding 50-20 hammering of Roncalli last weekend to end its losing streak.

They have endured a series of tough defeats to the competition big guns.

Against UC top five opposition, Timaru’s average losing margin has been little over eight points, earning losing bonus points against the likes of Christchurch Boys’, Rangiora and St Andrew’s.

Whether Mid Canterbury can compete up front today remains the big question, however they have proven it has the talent out wide when moving forward with Charlie Brown, Thomas Paterson and Sam Ree.

The critical period for the team will be after halftime, which will be dependent on the nature of the scoreboard and how much tackling it has been forced to do in the first spell.

If they can hang in the fight, then maybe the pressure goes back on Timaru Boys.

© The Ashburton Guardian -  7 August 2020