Rugby: Wheels fall off travelling teams

There will be some soul searching going on in the Wakatipu basin this week after both local premier rugby sides were given good old-fashioned hidings.

Wakatipu travelled to Clyde to take on Clyde-Earnscleugh and was soundly beaten 49-8 in a surprising defeat.

The home side scored seven tries to Wakatipu's one and coach Kelvin Middletonwas understandably disappointed with the way his side underperformed.

"I don't think our minds were on the job. It was touch and go at halftime and then the wheels just fell off."

Middleton believed Clyde-Earnscleugh's superior kicking game in the second half proved to be his side's downfall, as it was unable to counter it.

"Everything we did didn't seem to work and from there they exposed gaps in our defence."

Openside flanker Marcus Balchin was the lone player to shine for Wakatipu, his high work rate and positive attitude seeing him rewarded with Wakatipu's sole try.

It was the same old story in Ranfurly as Arrowtown was hammered 36-3 by local side Maniototo in a repeat of last season's final.

For much of the match, only four points separated the two teams as both forward packs bashed away at each other and the respective backlines saw little ball.

At 7-3 to Maniototo through 60 minutes, it looked as though Arrowtown might be in with a chance. From then on, however, it was starved of possession and fell off tackles, and the Maniototo backs ran in four late tries to close out the match.

No 8 Ben Chisholm was again at his barnstorming best and did everything to try to get his side moving forward, but his attempts were ultimately futile as the score ballooned in the final minutes.

This weekend, Wakatipu takes on Upper Clutha in Wanaka, while Arrowtown travels to Cromwell on Thursday to play under lights.

Results of premier matches.-

Maniototo 36 (Thomas Huddleston, Charlie Hore, Willie Clouston 2, Cam Grey tries; Huddleston con, Hore 3 cons, pen), Arrowtown 3 (Kane Dodds pen). Halftime 7-3.

Clyde-Earnscleugh 49 (Alan Maber, Jai Baxter, Shane Excel 2, Mike Harvey, Reino Siebrits, Kurt Checketts tries; Baxter 4 cons, 2 pens), Wakatipu 8 (Marcus Balchin try; Steve Ridley pen). Halftime 17-8.

Matakanui Combined 25 (Tom Donnelly, Nick Enright, Willie Lake, Troy Taylor, Owen McKee tries), Cromwell 16 (Garrett Smith try; Luke Stevenson con, 3 pens). Halftime 10-13.

Upper Clutha 22, Alexandra 13. Halftime 22-3.