Arrowtown couldn’t have nailed their prep better for tonight’s tough White Horse Cup challenge against Upper Clutha in Wānaka.
Having only won twice last season, the much-improved rugby side has now scored convincing back-to-back home wins against Maniototo (47-5) and, last Saturday, Alexandra (50-22), whom they had not beaten in three years.
"The last time we went over there for a White Horse Cup challenge [in ’24] we lost 50-0, so a bit of redemption would be nice," Arrowtown captain Ryan Egerton says.
"We know we’ve gotta be at our A-game for them because they’re the strongest team in this comp for a reason.
"But we’ve gotta take some confidence over there anyway, and give it a good crack, man, because why not?"
Egerton says they got a good look at Upper Clutha during the ‘super round’ in Queenstown this month — "we know where their strengths are, and hopefully we can just negate those".
He notes the Upper Clutha captain similarly spied on them in Arrowtown last weekend.
As to why they’re so much better this season, "we’ve definitely gotta put it down to how our trainings have been, the coaching, and everyone buying into the same game plan and just being able to put it into practice".
The Wakatipu Premiers, meanwhile, have a bye this weekend after beating Matakanui Combined 26-7 in Omakau last Friday.
• Arrowtown v Upper Clutha, Wānaka Domain, 6.45pm tonight
