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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
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
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.
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.
