A clash between last year’s grand finalists will be the feature of the first round of the 2022 Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition this Saturday (April 23).

The 2021 runners-up, ‘The Rams’ (Upper Clutha Rugby Club premiers), will travel to Cromwell to play defending champions the Cromwell Goats, with a new captain and a squad missing some key players from 2022.

“We’ve known about this fixture for a couple of months,” Rams coach Garry-John Hape said.

“We’re pretty excited and the boys are keen to get up.”

The Rams will be without powerful loose forward Sam Calder and first choice pivot Brodie Flannery this season. Both players were unavailable for personal reasons.

Garry said three of last year's Upper Clutha Colts team will make the step up to the premier grade this season.

“We have a handful of new guys including three of the quality colts players from last year,” he said.

“Milan Martinovich is a great first five, a very quick Adam Breen who was their top try scorer last year, and also Sam Pearce who captained the colts last year.”

These young players won’t have to look far to understand what it takes to be successful in the premier grade with newly appointed captain Lachie Garrick a product of the local rugby scene.

Lachie played for the Mount Aspiring College 1st XV and joined the Rams as a 19-year-old in 2017. He had a taste of grand final success as a member of the champion 2018 Rams squad.

Lachie told Rams TV “it’s a huge step up from where I started.”

“I’m privileged to get this spot, it means a lot to me and I hope I can do the best for the club,” he said.

Despite losses in both pre-season matches Garry says he is confident with what he has seen.

“We played really well and in a good style,” he said.

“Parts of those matches we played some really good rugby, some eye opening stuff.”

The Rams match against the Cromwell Goats will be played at Anderson Park in Cromwell this Saturday (April 23). Kick off 2.30pm.

PHOTO: Wānaka App