However, they face an even tougher battle this Saturday — a home game against Upper Clutha — in their quest to stay fourth in the comp and qualify for the semis.
Arrowtown beat Alex 27-12 after forfeiting five points for fielding unregistered players after beating them in the first round.
"There was obviously a bit of fire in the belly after what happened in the first round," Bulls skipper Ryan Egerton says.
"We’d had it marked on the calendar for a while, to be honest."
Following a disappointing loss to Maniototo in Ranfurly, "if we lost this game that would have been our season done, it would have been hard to even get the boys to turn up for training".
Arrowtown’s player of the day was flanker Hugh Fergusson, whom Egerton compares to Wakatipu Premiers co-captain Tom Ria.
"He’s our Arrowtown Tom Ria, he just tackles all day, but he hasn’t got a mouth like Tom Ria."
Two interesting newcomers also helped Arrowtown’s cause.
Lock Taeomua Haini, who has latterly played for the Seattle Seawolves in the United States’ Major League Rugby, "has grabbed the boys by the scruff of the neck, and he’s leading that forward pack, which has been good".
And centre Max Brown, son of 56-Test All Black prop Olo Brown, has also been outstanding, Egerton says — "he certainly puts the shots on".
Arrowtown this Saturday face second-placed Upper Clutha, who pummelled them 54-0 in Wānaka last month.
"We’re going to have to give it a crack, it just depends on what sort of team Arrowtown decides to turn up with, but with these must-win games just about anything can happen."
Third-placed Wakatipu Premiers have a bye this weekend after beating bottom-placed Matakanui Combined 24-0 on a mud-soaked Queenstown Recreation Ground last Saturday.
This Saturday, Arrowtown v Upper Clutha, Jack Reid Park, 2.30pm
