How dramatically things have changed.
After escaping from that opening encounter 21-20 through a last-gasp penalty, Cromwell have chalked up five more victories, including a memorable win at Upper Clutha’s expense, to lead the competition.
Meanwhile, Arrowtown have gone on something of a try-scoring bonanza to register three handsome victories and sit comfortably inside the top four.
Cromwell coach Roger Dawson is anxious coming into a rematch tomorrow, even though being drawn at Anderson Park means his team have the home advantage.
‘‘Arrowtown are a momentum team, a class side,’’ Dawson said.
‘‘We’ve got to make sure we get up, coming off the bye last Saturday. Arrowtown always seems to play well at Anderson Park.’’
Dawson is in the enviable state of having virtually every player available.
‘‘It’s a case of who to leave out,’’ he said.
Arrowtown conversely have been frustrated with injury setbacks. Midfielder Adam Jackson, who recently chalked up his 100th appearance, is out for the season.
‘‘It’s hard to get our best 15 on the paddock,’’ coach Aidan Winter said.
Winter is calling for more self-discipline than Arrowtown displayed in the first encounter.
Cromwell have flourished on penalties conceded by their opponents. They have kicked 12 penalty goals in their six matches, the same number landed by Wakatipu, Upper Clutha, Arrowtown, Alexandra and Maniototo collectively.
While Hayden Todd landed the match-winner in their first clash, it is first five Brayden Laing who has been frustrating opponents since.
Laing leads the competition with 55 points, including a couple of long-range efforts that helped bring down Upper Clutha.
Cromwell has been enveloped by an inversion layer for most of the past week, but the forecast is for the weather to clear by kick-off tomorrow.
Wakatipu and Alexandra will clash at Queenstown in a game neither side can really afford to lose.
Alexandra rebounded from four straight losses to crack 50 points against both Matakanui Combined and Maniototo, finally displaying the form that has made them a serious challenger over the past few seasons.
Wakatipu won their early-season clash 36-12, Rube Peina contributing 21 of those points, at Molyneux Park, but the rematch should produce a closer finish.
The White Horse Cup that was nearly stolen from Upper Clutha by Wakatipu last Saturday will be at stake against Matakanui Combined but there is an inevitability about the outcome of this encounter.
Upper Clutha won their early season clash 69-3.
- Bob Hewitt
