Waka's huge confidence boost
Wakatipu's Anton Huisman on the way to the try-line to level the score with Alexandra in the 85th minute. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The Wakatipu Premiers rugby coach thinks his team's huge come-from-behind away win against Alexandra last weekend could be season-defining.
Having lost to Maniototo and Upper Clutha, "the writing was on the wall", Jordan Manihera admits, when his team was 29-12 down after 51 minutes.
However, they then scored three tries, the last to Anton Huisman, to draw level before co-captain Rube Peina's conversion sealed a 31-29 victory in the 85th minute.
Cue the kind of celebration you'd expect if Waka had won the whole comp.
Manihera: "When you have those players putting in the big moments to seal the deal from all the hard work the team has put it, it's just a massive relief, which obviously shows the raw emotion the boys had at the end of the game."
He was delighted his players, 24-12 behind at halftime, "listened and adapted".
"The resilience they showed was the biggest tick for us for the day."
Wakatipu's Rube Peina is mobbed by overjoyed teammates after converting the try to win the game against Alexandra, 31-29.
Highlights for him included a crucial scrum penalty won by first-year prop Spencer Wilkins, Bradley Cross' stint as an impact player, when he's normally a run-on player, and Peina's pressure-cooker conversion after he'd muffed an end-of-game penalty in Waka's surprise semifinal loss to Alex last season.
Manihera says after their home loss to Upper Clutha, "one of our big learnings was, how do we actually adapt to having pressure as a privilege rather than making us go into our shells?"
He adds: "To be the only team Alexandra have lost to this year, twice now, does send a message to the other teams that we can rise to any team we play."
Meanwhile, he's delighted neighbour Arrowtown, who've only won once this season, came so close to top-of-the-table Upper Clutha last weekend, coming back from 17-0 at halftime to only lose 17-12.
"To be that close to the top team, who are a good team, fair credit to them."
The competition breaks this weekend for Topp Cup fixtures between Central Otago and South Otago in Alexandra this Saturday.
The Central Otago development squad includes Arrowtown's Adam Jackson and Wakatipu's Will Burdon and Thomas Hulsman.
Central's premiers squad includes Arrowtown's Ryan Egerton and Wakatipu's Tom Ria, Peina, Huisman, Conner Hamlin, Jamie Natapu and Phil Kingsbury.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
13 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Two views — one Topp Cup
Southern Region celebrate winning the Topp Cup last season. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Southern view One Topp Cup. Two perspectives. Correspondents Francis Parker (Southern Region) and Bob Howitt (Central Otago) go at it from different angles. The stage is set for another edition of Otago Country regional action, writes Parker. The annual Topp Cup kicks off at Molyneux Park in Alexandra this weekend when hosts Central Otago look to take the prized heirloom off the visiting Southern Region side. Both country competitions have been hard fought this season so far, resulting in numerous players being omitted from both sides due to injury. The Southern Region side has had to battle with injuries and suspensions heading into this match which has seen their depth tested also. Experienced campaigners Josh Turnbull and Ethan Hippolite lead a rugged forward pack that does have a smattering of fresh faces. Prop Mafi Demont has had a fantastic season for Clutha and deserves a crack at the next level. The backline will be marshalled by the Crescent duo of Joshua Cook and Harley McHardy. Clubmate and Otago Country leader Chase Owen is outside them. McHardy adds plenty of experience in a position that was a real head-scratcher for management. The back three of Jack Blair, Junior Meafua, and Jared Hayes boast over 25 tries this season for their respective sides. Southern won the 2024 edition of the clash in Milton last season and, since 2014, the tie has been split five wins each with a no-result in 2020 due to Covid. The Central and Southern Development sides will face off in a curtain-raiser with the future stars on show. Central view Central Otago are out to regain the much-cherished Topp Cup, writes Howitt. It is a trophy with a colourful history, dating from 1913, that gives the winning team significant bragging rights. Of the past 10 contests, five have been won by Central and five by Southern, who finished in front at Milton 12 months ago. "There's a terrific rivalry associated with the Topp Cup," Southern's coach Craig Hyslop said. "Retaining it is always a huge challenge." Midfielder Chase Owen made the winning speech for Southern last year but his rival Tyler Ford, in outstanding form for Alexandra this year, will be wanting to hand out the plaudits to his team this time. Hyslop claims it was his bench players who ultimately won the contest for his team 24-12 in windy conditions last season, super sub Kace Shaw scoring a memorable try to wrap things up late in the game. Ford, who will play centre, will have a major impact on proceedings and will appreciate having Ben Maxwell, now with Maniototo, running the backline from first-five. Loose forward Will Healey, in dynamic form for Alexandra after breaking his ankle last season, is another to watch. Stalwarts of the Central team include lock Dean Sinnamon, who has scored eight tries for Matakanui Combined so far this season, fullback Doug Smith, winger Jamie Natapu, midfielder Rube Peina and No 8 Jake Burtenshaw. Props Mike Phillips (Matakanui Combined) and William Holdom (Alexandra) will anchor the scrum. The Central Otago starting fifteen includes five players from Wakatipu, four from Alexandra and two each from Upper Clutha, Matakanui Combined and Maniototo. The Topp Cup contest will be preceded by a Development Squad clash between the Central and South Otago teams.
Otago Daily Times
13 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Hat-trick key for Topp thriller
A hat-trick of tries from mobile lock Dean Sinnamon led Central Region to a thrilling 41-38 victory over Southern Region in a highly entertaining contest for the much-treasured Topp Cup at Molyneux Park on Saturday. Lock Sinnamon, already the leading try scorer in the Central Otago club competition this season, remarkable enough for a team that is bottom of the competition, romped away with the man of the match award, controlling the lineout as well as proving a champion finisher. He was one of three players who dominated the scoring. Central second five Rube Peina goal-kicked impeccably, converting all five of his team's tries and adding two penalty goals for a 16-point haul while Southern Region fullback Jared Hayes finished with 18 points from a try, five conversions and a penalty goal. Remarkably, only one kick at goal, an attempt by Peina from near halfway, missed. Southern, holders of the Topp Cup, led only once in the game, at 14-10, and appeared down and out when trailing 31-41 with 12 minutes remaining. But a daring 'hail Mary' pass from the Central backs, full of confidence as they sought another five-pointer, was intercepted by Southern winger Junior Meafua, who sprinted 80m for a try between the posts. Suddenly the game was wide open and when Southern surged back to the 22, it seemed they might steal an outrageous victory. But Central's defence was up to the challenge and the Topp Cup went to the team that, across 80 minutes, produced the classier rugby. Besides Sinnamon and Peina, Central's star performers were the Alexandra pair of lock Will Healey and halfback ''Chugga'' O'Neill, flanker Anton Huisman, centre and captain Tyler Ford and flying wingers Jamie Natapu and Conor Hamlin. Cromwell's Rhys Harrold, a late replacement for Ben Maxwell, ran the backline expertly from first-five. Southern fullback Hayes, a star of his team's victory in 2024, threatened to win the game on his own but found the challenge just too great. Halfback Sam Stratford contributed plenty and scored two tries while lock Damian Wilson ensured his team had ample ball to work with. But although there was only three points separating the sides at the final whistle, Central triumphed as the superior attacking team. In the curtainraisers, Central won the men's development contest 21-14 while the women's game went to Alhambra Union 26-21 over the Central Otago Does. — Bob Howitt
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Waka's huge confidence boost
Wakatipu's Anton Huisman on the way to the try-line to level the score with Alexandra in the 85th minute. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The Wakatipu Premiers rugby coach thinks his team's huge come-from-behind away win against Alexandra last weekend could be season-defining. Having lost to Maniototo and Upper Clutha, "the writing was on the wall", Jordan Manihera admits, when his team was 29-12 down after 51 minutes. However, they then scored three tries, the last to Anton Huisman, to draw level before co-captain Rube Peina's conversion sealed a 31-29 victory in the 85th minute. Cue the kind of celebration you'd expect if Waka had won the whole comp. Manihera: "When you have those players putting in the big moments to seal the deal from all the hard work the team has put it, it's just a massive relief, which obviously shows the raw emotion the boys had at the end of the game." He was delighted his players, 24-12 behind at halftime, "listened and adapted". "The resilience they showed was the biggest tick for us for the day." Wakatipu's Rube Peina is mobbed by overjoyed teammates after converting the try to win the game against Alexandra, 31-29. Highlights for him included a crucial scrum penalty won by first-year prop Spencer Wilkins, Bradley Cross' stint as an impact player, when he's normally a run-on player, and Peina's pressure-cooker conversion after he'd muffed an end-of-game penalty in Waka's surprise semifinal loss to Alex last season. Manihera says after their home loss to Upper Clutha, "one of our big learnings was, how do we actually adapt to having pressure as a privilege rather than making us go into our shells?" He adds: "To be the only team Alexandra have lost to this year, twice now, does send a message to the other teams that we can rise to any team we play." Meanwhile, he's delighted neighbour Arrowtown, who've only won once this season, came so close to top-of-the-table Upper Clutha last weekend, coming back from 17-0 at halftime to only lose 17-12. "To be that close to the top team, who are a good team, fair credit to them." The competition breaks this weekend for Topp Cup fixtures between Central Otago and South Otago in Alexandra this Saturday. The Central Otago development squad includes Arrowtown's Adam Jackson and Wakatipu's Will Burdon and Thomas Hulsman. Central's premiers squad includes Arrowtown's Ryan Egerton and Wakatipu's Tom Ria, Peina, Huisman, Conner Hamlin, Jamie Natapu and Phil Kingsbury.
