Arrowtown coach Hayden Finch conceded his side's 32-7 win against Cromwell at Arrowtown's Jack Reid Park on Saturday was a ''pretty scrappy game, to be honest''.
Despite Arrowtown leading 15-0 at halftime, Finch gave credit to Cromwell, saying the side ''played very well''.
The first half saw ''a couple of opportunist tries'' but in the end, what mattered was the first White Horse Cup challenge was a success for Arrowtown.
''We didn't play as well as we would have liked to today - Cromwell didn't let us,'' Finch said, adding Arrowtown also ''might have been a bit hyped up about the White Horse Cup Challenge''.
''Retaining the cup is the key - it doesn't matter how you win, as long as you keep the cup.''
Arrowtown took the cup from Wakatipu two weeks ago at the Queenstown Recreation Ground.
The side heads to Alexandra this weekend and Finch expects a tough game.
''We've always found it tough when we go to Alexandra. They [Alexandra] always rise to the occasion against us.''
Meanwhile, Wakatipu suffered a 29-22 loss against Upper Clutha A in Wanaka.
Wakatipu Captain Steve Bruce said his team would be working hard to put some strength into the first half of games.
''We've got some work to do, in that we need to start stringing together some consistent rugby,'' Bruce said.
Wakatipu scored two tries ''quite late in the piece'' but the team was just not matching this effort in the first half of games.
''We're having to play catch-up rugby.''
He has faith, however.
''We will get there - it's a long season.''
Like Finch, Bruce gave credit to the opposition: ''That's the best Upper Clutha side I have played.''
This weekend, Wakatipu plays Maniototo in Queenstown and Bruce said it would be ''tough for us to get the win''.
''We will have to get into shape pretty quickly.''
However, he was confident his team could pull it off.
