Final time for Old Golds

North Otago will welcome Wanganui to the Whitestone Contracting Stadium for the Lochore Cup final on Sunday.

The Old Golds finished seventh on the points table and paved their way to the final with a tightly contested 16-12 victory over sixth placed South Canterbury in Timaru last weekend.

Eighth place finishers Wanganui booked a final spot with an impressive 37-6 victory over King Country in Te Kuiti, which was their first away victory of the campaign – a statistic which may give confidence to the North Otago faithful.

Wanganui will be without loose forward Faalafi Vave, but coach Jason Caskey will have a near full-strength squad to choose from.

Caskey said he is expecting a tough, physical encounter in Oamaru.

” I expect very much the same as always from North Otago,” he said.

“They’re very physical and dangerous with X-factor players that can hurt you from anywhere.”

Sunday’s fixture;

North Otago vs Wanganui, Whitestone Contracting Stadium, 2.35pm.

North Otago;

Ralph Darling, Kilioni Taufa, Rob Mafile’o, Sale Pii, Jared Whitburn, Josh Clark

Manulua Taiti, Samisoni Tongotongo, Robbie Smith, Ben Palmer,

Matthew Vocea, Ekeroma Sauileoge, Tenina Sauileoge,Lemi Masoe,

Simeli Koniferedi, Hayden Tisdall, Palenapa Mafi, Matt Mullins,

Matt Duff, Cameron Keenan, Stephen Fenemor, Joe Marston.

By JAMES FORD

PHOTO: JAMES FORD – Matthew Vocea scored North Otago only try in the semi-final.