The numbers on the scoreboard read Arrowtown 10, Wakatipu 7 and after an 8-8 draw earlier in the season, it is clear there is nothing more than a miserly 3 points separating these two evenly-matched teams.
Wakatipu started strongly but it was Arrowtown which scored first after 15 minutes, when winger Daniel Eyles showed great skills breaking the line, chipping the last line of defence and pouncing on the loose ball to score.
Wakatipu quickly regrouped and with Brad Robertson dancing through a few holes and Tom Kelly looking dangerous, Arrowtown's scrambling defence was put to the test.
After missing a relatively easy penalty attempt, Wakatipu almost made amends in the 30th minute when barnstorming No 8 Ben Blakely made a charging run up field but the move ended with Wakatipu tipped into touch just as the ball was planted over the line.
Time and again, Arrowtown managed to get itself out of trouble thanks to tough bruising defence, a solid scrum, accurate lineout work and good clean clearance kicking.
The players did the basics exceptionally well in testing conditions, and defended aggressively.
Wakatipu came out in the second spell trailing 5-0 and it did not take long before it was throwing the kitchen sink at the Arrowtown try line.
In soggy conditions, its ball security was excellent and its efforts finally reaped a reward when Ben Blakely crashed through a couple of tackles to score under the horns.
However, conceding a try seemed to inspire Arrowtown, and with a decent bit of ball it launched an attack that saw captain Aiden Winter sneak the ball down in the corner.
After deliberation with his touch judge, the referee awarded the try and Arrowtown took back the lead 10-7.
That is the way the score stayed, though not through a lack of effort from Wakatipu with Toi Roberts and Ben Blakely carrying the ball up strongly all day.
Tom Kelly also showed his class, with his ability to spin and offload in the tackle setting him apart.
His influence was nullified due to outstanding Arrowtown defence, particularly centre Isireli Nayaloga who did not miss his man all game.
Wakatipu captain Cole Pewhairangi also played strongly, more often than not winning the breakdown.
But at the end of the day, the boys in pink came up a metre short and missed the final 10% required to win.
It now looks likely these two teams will meet again at Jack Reid Park in the semifinals, a thought that will not bother Wakatipu too much, as it knows it has the goods to win.
There is just the small matter of getting past a staunch Arrowtown defence which backs itself to do the business.
- Scott Stevens
