Alexandra overcame their under-lights duck-shooting hoodoo to hand Upper Clutha just their third loss in 32 matches at Wanaka on Thursday night, winning 31-27 and throwing the Central Otago premier club rugby competition wide open.
Before Thursday Alexandra hadn’t won under lights. It was the bogey team captain, and man of the match, Tyler Ford desperately wanted to get rid of.
His team had previously come unstuck pursuing an attacking policy when the ball had become slippery from the night-time dew.
But at Wanaka on Thursday heavy overhead cloud kept the ball and surface comparatively dry, resulting in a cracking spectacle that looked as if it was being played in 23C° instead of the existing 6C°.
Alexandra scored in the second minute of the first half and, after trailing 10-12 at halftime, in the second minute of the second half.
Hooker Ben Allan scored his fourth try of the season and No 8 Will Healey, one of the game’s standout individuals, also dotted down.
With Ford directing operations superbly, and kicking five goals, Alexandra clung desperately to their four-point lead as Upper Clutha threw everything at them in the final stages.
It became only Upper Clutha’s third loss in 32 matches across three seasons, a remarkable record, but was not unpredictable given they have lost their try-scoring and goal-kicking aces from last season, Thomas Jarman and Brady Kingan, and have other key players out injured.
Upper Clutha still lead on 22 points, one ahead of Wakatipu, who they challenge for the White Horse Trophy at Queenstown this Saturday, while Alexandra, just one point further back, take on bottom-placed Matakanui Combined.
Wakatipu bounced back from their shock loss to Maniototo by running Cromwell ragged 40-8 at Anderson Park.
While the Cromwell scrum was in command, claiming five tightheads, the home team’s backs were overwhelmed by Wakatipu’s classy lot, three-quarters Jack Caunter, Michael Rewi and James Natapu all contributing tries.
One ray of hope for Cromwell is that classy five-eighth Rhys Harold made a 20-minute cameo and should be back in the starting lineup in a fortnight, with Cromwell having the bye this Saturday.
Maniototo solidified their standing in fourth place with a comfortable 29-12, five tries to two, victory over Matakanui Combined at Omakau. They will now host Arrowtown at Ranfurly.
— Bob Howitt
