Latest news with #Wakatipu
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Acid on Wakatipu against in-form Alex
After losses to Maniototo and Upper Clutha, the acid is right on Wakatipu as they travel to Molyneux Park to tackle in-form Alexandra tomorrow. Alexandra, finalists the past two seasons, have established a telling eight-point advantage over Wakatipu, and a win tomorrow would virtually assure them an important home semifinal. Wakatipu know they can beat Alexandra, having dealt to them 31-3 early in the season, but while the Armadillos have improved match by match, Wakatipu have struggled for consistency and know tomorrow represents a huge challenge. Wakatipu coach Jordan Manihera says last weekend's bye was "really beneficial" for his team. "We had a really close watch of the replay of our White Horse Cup challenge against Upper Clutha, identifying areas where we went wrong. "We've identified areas where we can improve." Alexandra have had a confidence boost with five players being named in the Central Otago team for next weekend's Topp Cup clash with South Otago; centre Tyler Ford, — also named as captain — prop William Holdom, No 8 James Dobson, lock Will Healey and halfback Ryan O'Neill. One who did not win selection but who was a standout against Cromwell last weekend was Ryley Park, who showed extreme pace and elusiveness at both second-five and later at wing. One of the most startling features of Alexandra's 40-26 win over Cromwell was the power of their scrum, heaving the locals back ruthlessly in the opening quarter to create two telling tries. Arrowtown, sitting a forlorn sixth in the competition after the shock loss to tailenders Matakanui Combined, have home advantage to Upper Clutha, but it may not be enough. Upper Clutha had to work overtime to retain the White Horse Trophy against Maniototo, but hung in valiantly to record the 39th win from their last 44 games at Arrowtown's expense. Maniototo beat Cromwell 40-12 in their first-round clash and it is hard not to see them coming out on top when they meet at Ranfurly tomorrow. Forty is a score Cromwell have now conceded three times this season. Rhys Harrold's return at first-five gave them a lift against Alexandra, but they demonstrated in that game that there is still room for massive improvement.
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
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Cup goes to Upper Clutha in thriller
After a break by Jake Burtenshaw, Upper Clutha's Milan Martinovich stretched the ball over the line in the last phase of play for his team to snatch the White Horse Cup off Wakatipu in a nail-biting top-of-the-table clash at the Queenstown Recreation Ground on Saturday. Brodie Flannery's conversion sealed a 17-10 win for Upper Clutha. Just four minutes before, a sideline penalty by Wakatipu's Rube Peina, bringing the score to 10-10, looked to have done enough the keep the coveted cup — and the John Reid Memorial Cup — in Queenstown. Astonishingly, the first half had been scoreless with Wakatipu fortunate not have been behind. Ten minutes into the second half, Flannery finally succeeded with a penalty after two missed attempts. The game was interrupted for about 20 minutes after Upper Clutha fullback Henry Schikker collided mid-air with a Wakatipu player, and Schikker appeared badly concussed before coming around. Unfortunately, he also became the second Upper Clutha player to be yellow-carded after prop Blair Kennedy in the first half. Wakatipu finally got on the board in the 60th minute, fullback Matt Saunders scoring after a great off-load by Conner Hamlin, and Peina converting from wide out. Upper Clutha replied with a nice solo try by flanker Joel Turnbull after bursting out of a maul. Flannery converted before the game had two scoring manoeuvres in the tense last four minutes. For Upper Clutha, regaining the White Horse Cup was revenge for surrendering the cup to Wakatipu in their only loss last season. It was also their best performance this year, coach Alex Dickson said, coming off their only loss this season to Alexandra the week before. "I thought we played more rugby than [Wakatipu] and we defended really well when we had to. "I thought hooker Scott Cunningham was good, Jake Burtenshaw was good once again and Andy Horne made some massive tackles." Wakatipu coach Jordan Manihera said his side was "pretty lucky" to have even been eyeing a draw four minutes from the end. "We just didn't deserve to win on how we were playing and conducting ourselves around the field." Aside from dropping the ball and conceding too many penalties, Wakatipu might also rue turning down too many kickable penalties considering Peina's skill off the tee. He and fellow co-captain Tom Ria were Wakatipu's two best players on the day. Upper Clutha face a formidable Maniototo in their first White Horse Cup defence this Saturday while Wakatipu start the second round with a bye. Maniototo made it four wins from six games by defeating Arrowtown 30-12 at Ranfurly to comfortably position themselves in the top four. Midfielder Joe Browett scored two tries, and the player of the day award went to prop Mike Shaw. Arrowtown began the season with a massive win over Matakanui Combined, but four losses and a draw have left them languishing in sixth place, 11 points short of the top four. Alexandra continued their surge towards the summit with a 57-15 thumping of Matakanui Combined at Molyneux Park. Man of the match was openside flanker Sam Chapman, with other outstanding performances coming from lock Joshua Scobie and winger Jake Denniston. The win pushes Alexandra into second position, just one point behind Upper Clutha, the only team to defeat them in the first round. — Philip Chandler
Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
White Horse Cup humdinger looming
Wakatipu's Conner Hamlin slips the Cromwell defence during the teams' clash in Cromwell last weekend. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGH Stand by for a humdinger when Central Otago's top two rugby sides clash in Queenstown this Saturday. In playing the Wakatipu Premiers, defending champs Upper Clutha will be out to make amends for their surprise 31-27 home loss to Alexandra under lights last Thursday — just their third loss in 32 matches. They'll also be out to take the White Horse Cup off the very team who took it off them in Wanaka last May. Since Upper Clutha are only a point above Wakatipu on the table, the Vincent Shield will also be up for grabs for the winner of the first round, which finishes this Saturday. After losing to Maniototo on April 26 — so far their only loss this season — Wakatipu improved to thrash Cromwell away, 40-8, last Saturday. Their coach, Jordan Manihera, says this weekend's game will be "a massive occasion". "There's a lot on the line, and it's going to be a fantastic occasion and opportunity, especially for those young boys that haven't been a part of a game this big locally." Upper Clutha coach Alex Dickson perhaps surprisingly says they'll be underdogs after their loss to Alex. He says numbers wise "we've been struggling since the start of the season, especially in the front row, but this week we're getting a few players back, so hopefully we'll be close to full strength". Upper Clutha, however, have history in their favour — they beat Wakatipu 28-14 last time they played them in Queenstown, in April last year. Meantime the Wakatipu Ladies lost 45-10 to Invercargill's Blues in Mossburn last Friday. They face Pioneer Women as a curtain-raiser to the Prems, at the Rec Ground from 12.45pm Saturday, while Arrowtown, who've won only one of their five games this season, face a tough battle against Maniototo in Ranfurly, and the Wanderers play Collegiate in Invercargill.
