Mid Canterbury Combined will be wanting a similar push against Shirley Boy’s High at Ashburton College today. Photo supplied.If one could magically bottle previous weeks’ performances it would probably be a fairly simple game.

However, undoubtedly the biggest test for Mid Canterbury Combined is channelling another big performance against another daunting opponent.

The Mid Cantabrians host Shirley Boys’ High in Ashburton today in what will be another significant challenge for the side.

The Christchurch school currently sits sixth on the ladder, and last week put Roncalli Aoraki Combined to the sword.

Unlike St Andrew’s last week, Shirley should be unburdened by faltering motivation levels as it looks to stay with the UC Championship frontrunners.

The irony of Mid Canterbury Combined’s brave display against a table-topping STAC side last week is that it put the competition on notice.

Which makes Shirley Boys’ that much more dangerous at Ashburton College today.

Last week’s 35-30 heartbreak at AshColl should renew confidence levels to significant heights for Combined, and the side will be wanting to recycle the things they did well in the game.

On the other side of the coin, the side should be wary of how they back up from an impressive performance.

Case and point is when Combined registered their first win of the season against Roncalli, only to be whacked by 70 points a week later by St Thomas.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 22 August 2020