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Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Retaining White Horse Cup ‘means a lot' in jubilee match
The Upper Clutha Rugby team won their jubilee match 28-14 against Maniototo on Saturday in Wanaka. PHOTO: OLIVIA CALDWELL The Upper Clutha Rugby team could breathe a sigh of relief after their 125th jubilee match, with the final whistle bringing a 28-14 win over Maniototo at home in Wānaka. The top of the table Rams had the White Horse Cup on the line against the visiting side, and while they doubled the opposition's score on fulltime, they did not make it easy on themselves. Upper Clutha trailed the match at halftime and for much of the second half, but were able to regain composure in the second half defending their own line on more than one occasion. The injury-riddled home side lived up to the occasion, as did the loyal crowd of over 1000. Upper Clutha coach Alex Dickson was proud of his team at fulltime and said the win could propel them to a competition title if their form continued. "We got there in the end, the first half I wasn't too happy — just holding on to the ball when we shouldn't be and gave them easy territory.' "With the White Horse Cup and jubilee, it was a big day for the team. "The boys are happy, it was a grind but we knew they would come at us. "With all the old players around we didn't want to disappoint.'' The club's foundation of high-country farmers after the amalgamation of Tarras and Wānaka in 1971 took a bit of getting used to and it was not love at first sight. Today there are fewer farmers on the team, and more tradesmen as the town has changed since its small rural beginnings. The Upper Clutha team have just five matches ahead before semifinals, which they are tipped to get a spot in. A worse-for-wear captain, Lachie Garrick, was thrilled with the result. "I'm happy to come away with the win. It is good the White Horse will stay with us for another couple of weeks.'' The White Horse Cup is the Central Otago competition's equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield which is only contested on the holder's home grounds. "It means a lot getting the win for us and for the crowd. Winner's drinks taste better,'' Garrick said. "We were a little patchy and waiting to click but once those [players] are back from injury we will start to fire up. "That first half we were a bit nervy, but I don't really look at the scoreboard.'' Garrick has captained the side for four years, playing lock and flanker. He lifted the Central Otago trophy last year for the team after a six-year hiatus for the club, which last won the competition in 2018. The team celebrated its 125th jubilee with a dinner at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Saturday night.
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Upper Clutha secures jubilee victory
The Upper Clutha rugby team could breathe a sigh of relief on its 125th jubilee match, with the final whistle bringing a 28-14 win over Maniototo at home in Wānaka. The top of the table Rams had the White Horse Cup on the line against the visiting side, and while they doubled the opposition's score on fulltime, they didn't make it easy on themselves. Upper Clutha trailed the match at halftime and for much of the second half, but were able to regain composure in the second half defending their own line on more than one occasion. The injury riddled home side lived up to the occasion, as did the loyal crowd of over 1000. Upper Clutha coach Alex Dickson was proud of his team at fulltime and said the win could propel them to a competition title if the form continued. "We got there in the end, the first half I wasn't too happy. Just holding on to the ball when we shouldn't be and gave them easy territory." "With the White Horse Cup and jubilee — it was a big day for the team. "The boys are happy, it was a grind but we knew they would come at us. With all the old players around we didn't want to disappoint." The Upper Clutha team have just five matches ahead before semifinals, which they are tipped to get a spot in. A worse-for-wear captain Lachie Garrick was thrilled with the result. "I'm happy to come away with the win, it is good the White Horse will stay with us for another couple of weeks." The White Horse Cup is the Central Otago competition's equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield which is only contested on the holder's home grounds. "It means a lot getting the win for us and for the crowd. Winner's drinks taste better," he said. "We were a little patchy and waiting to click but once those are back from injury we will start to fire up." "That first half we are a bit nervy, but I don't really look at the score board." The team celebrated its 125th jubilee with a dinner at the Lake Wānaka community centre on Saturday evening.
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Jubilant victory for Upper Clutha
The Upper Clutha rugby team could breathe a sigh of relief on its 125th jubilee match, with the final whistle bringing a 28-14 win over Maniototo at home in Wānaka. The top of the table Rams had the White Horse Cup on the line against the visiting side, and while they doubled the opposition's score on fulltime, they didn't make it easy on themselves. Upper Clutha trailed the match at halftime and for much of the second half, but were able to regain composure in the second half defending their own line on more than one occasion. The injury riddled home side lived up to the occasion, as did the loyal crowd of over 1000. Upper Clutha coach Alex Dickson was proud of his team at fulltime and said the win could propel them to a competition title if the form continued. "We got there in the end, the first half I wasn't too happy. Just holding on to the ball when we shouldn't be and gave them easy territory." "With the White Horse Cup and jubilee — it was a big day for the team. "The boys are happy, it was a grind but we knew they would come at us. With all the old players around we didn't want to disappoint." The Upper Clutha team have just five matches ahead before semifinals, which they are tipped to get a spot in. A worse-for-wear captain Lachie Garrick was thrilled with the result. "I'm happy to come away with the win, it is good the White Horse will stay with us for another couple of weeks." The White Horse Cup is the Central Otago competition's equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield which is only contested on the holder's home grounds. "It means a lot getting the win for us and for the crowd. Winner's drinks taste better," he said. "We were a little patchy and waiting to click but once those are back from injury we will start to fire up." "That first half we are a bit nervy, but I don't really look at the score board." The team celebrated its 125th jubilee with a dinner at the Lake Wānaka community centre on Saturday evening.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Maggots up for crack at White Horse
Maniototo, coming off a three-game winning streak in the Central Otago premier club competition, receive a rare opportunity to challenge for the coveted White Horse Trophy when they tackle Upper Clutha at the Wānaka Domain tomorrow. Few of the current Maniototo players have experienced the thrill of winning the celebrated White Horse Trophy, which was first competed for in 1926, but one who has is classy new first five Ben Maxwell. Maxwell captained Cromwell when they lifted the trophy from Maniototo six seasons ago and contributed many distinguished performances as captain, halfback and goalkicker before ultimately the trophy moved on to Upper Clutha. Maxwell relocated to the Maniototo this year and has been performing with distinction at first five, outside Matt Horne, the Otago Country halfback. The last occasion Maniototo won the White Horse Trophy was in 2019 after pulling off a stunning last-gasp try against Wakatipu at Queenstown. A club's name is only inscribed on the trophy if that club retains it at season's end, and Maniototo lost it a fortnight later to Cromwell (who would hold it for another two seasons). Upper Clutha beat Maniototo 38-17 when they met in the opening game of this season, but Maniototo coach Ken Wills admits his side was rather ill-prepared at that stage. "It's hard getting players coming from a farming environment prepared for challenging contests as early as March," Wills said. "We were competitive but giving away two intercept tries didn't help." In recent weeks, Maniototo, or the Maggots as they are commonly known, have beaten Wakatipu, Matakanui Combined and Arrowtown to sit comfortably in fourth place. Maniototo have lost experienced flanker Peter O'Malley to a head knock, but otherwise have all their players available. Alexandra, sitting second just one point behind Upper Clutha, take on Cromwell at Anderson Park, where coach Lee Wilson concedes has not been a happy hunting ground for his team in recent seasons. "But this year we have been fortunate to suffer few injuries, which has given us so many more options," Wilson said. "I'm very happy with where we are at going into the second round." Cromwell have managed just one victory and one draw in their six matches to date. They have a powerful pack that consistently heaved Wakatipu back in their contest last weekend. But Cromwell could not match the speed and skill of the Wakatipu backs and ultimately lost 40-8. Having Rhys Harrold back at first five will help but the smart money will be on Alexandra. The remaining game pits Matakanui Combined against Arrowtown at Omakau, their first-round clash producing a 66-15 victory for Arrowtown. Neither side has won since. Matakanui Combined are finding victories elusive these days but, remarkably, have their name on the White Horse Trophy more than any other club, 33 times, having dominated in Central Otago initially from 1947 to 1963 and again in the 1980s.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Club on a roll for jubilee match
The stage is set for the Upper Clutha Rugby team's 125th celebrations. Upper Clutha are top of the Central Otago competition table after winning their first six matches this season, including the "Ranfurly Shield equivalent"of Central Otago rugby, the White Horse Cup, against Wakatipu last Saturday, and will take on Maniototo tomorrow in their jubilee match. Captain Lachie Garrick has played all his rugby in the area and said it would be a special day for current and former players of the club. "It is a massive milestone for our club; it feels good to be a part of it. It is a good environment. We have got such a good club down in Wanaka. "We get a lot of support, so it'll be really awesome to celebrate the 125th with everyone.'' Garrick has captained the side for four years, playing lock and flanker. He lifted the Central Otago trophy last year for the team after a six-year hiatus for the club, which last won the competition in 2018. He hopes to do the same at the end of this season. Maniototo would test the team's unbeaten streak, he said. "They have got a pretty tidy team so that will definitely test us — we will want to win it, we will want to put on a bit of a show.'' It is said you are not a local until you have played 50 matches for the Upper Clutha Rugby Club — or at least, that's what its players, members and stalwarts will have you thinking. Celebrations start tonight with a get-together at the clubrooms, while tomorrow, past presidents, players and captains will gather and reminisce about the club's 125 years, what the club is built around and what makes Wānaka tick — farming and trades. Former club president Nathan Simon said when he first arrived as a player in 2001, the club's foundation of high-country farmers after the amalgamation of Tarras and Wānaka in 1971 took a bit of getting used to and it was not love at first sight. Even when he arrived, there were a few tradies from Wānaka, but the Tarras contingent was made up of "real high-country farmers and a whole lot of other rural guys'', he said. "When you fast-forward to now, the club has about four or five farmers and the rest are tradies in town, so it really has changed in the 20-odd years. The club was looking forward to welcoming back many old players and supporters and all will be hungry for a win against Maniototo.
