Waka ready for tough away clash
Wakatipu Prems coach Jordan Manihera. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
The Wakatipu Premiers rugby side's away match against Alexandra this Saturday shapes as an enthralling near-top-of-the-table clash.
After Alex stunned them in last year's semifinal in Queenstown, Wakatipu thrashed them 31-3 at home to start this year's season.
Since then, however, Alexandra have won every game, even surprising comp leaders Upper Clutha in Wanaka, to sit second on the table.
Waka, however, have dropped two of their last three games, their last being a White Horse Cup loss to Upper Clutha, to sit third, eight points behind Alex.
Coach Jordan Manihera says "we haven't been happy with our performance in terms of hitting the standard we have put on ourselves".
He adds last weekend's bye was "really beneficial".
"We had a really good close watch of the replay of the game against Upper Clutha, just identifying areas where we went wrong and where we can improve, so I'm really excited to see that come into action this week."
Manihera says Alexandra "work hard for each other constantly for a full 80-minute game".
"We've identified opportunities where we can be a bit better than them and there's a couple of threats we've analysed, too, which we'll need to shut down pretty quickly."
Meanwhile, bottom-of-the-table Matakanui Combined upset Arrowtown 42-29 in Omakau last weekend — Arrowtown's only first-round 'W' was a convincing home win over the same side.
Arrowtown this Saturday face a daunting home game against Upper Clutha.
Wakatipu Wanderers last weekend had a 50-10 away win over Wrights Bush, while Wakatipu Ladies defaulted to Gore's Albion.
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