Duck-shooting draws significant talent from team

While two of the old campaigners hoisted Cromwell Goats to a desperate victory over Upper Clutha in the latest series of Central Otago club rugby matches it was a new kid on the block who got Wakatipu home in the local derby against Arrowtown.

It was a round where duck-shooting had a major influence on events, with three of the games being played on Thursday night and Friday afternoon and only the Wakatipu-Arrowtown contest, which attracted a large crowd to Queenstown Rec, happening on Saturday.

After impressive wins over Arrowtown and Wakatipu, the Cromwell Goats were expected to sweep aside the under-new-management Upper Clutha visitors under lights at home.

But Upper Clutha came at the trophy-holders like a tsunami in the first half, racing out to a 17-6 advantage with two cracking tries to outside backs Sean Murray and Hamish Brown.

It looked like the White Horse Cup would be moving on.

Cromwell was as flat as a pancake through those opening 30 minutes before regular stars Hayden Todd and Ben Maxwell decided to do something about the desperate situation.

Todd forced his way across for a try in the 37th minute only to have it over-ruled by the officials, then in the 40th minute came a pivotal moment — a penalty to the Goats in front of the posts.

It was a certain three points for Maxwell, the leading point-scorer in the competition. But the Goats’ skipper wanted more. He tapped the ball, darted right and put giant lock Stefan Blakeborough across for a critical score, which Maxwell converted for 17-13.

The first 30 minutes of the second half became a goal-kicking contest between Maxwell and Upper Clutha’s Brodie Flannery, which Maxwell won.

He landed two from two, as did Flannery, but critically Flannery missed a sitter from straight in front, then, minutes later, with an opportunity to set up an attacking lineout, punted the ball dead.

So it was 23-19 to Upper Clutha with 10 minutes remaining when the Goats demonstrated why they are the champions. After the forwards reclaimed the restart, the backs combined sweetly to put centre Warwick Cheney across for a try in the corner.

Was that it? No, Upper Clutha came storming back through winger Brown in the dying seconds, setting up a ruck near the goal line from which the Goats were penalised.

It all came down to Flannery’s final kick, from wide out, but he hooked it wide, allowing the Goats to remain undefeated.

The star of Wakatipu’s hard-fought 18-10 win over Arrowtown was hooker Jake McEwan, who possesses most of the skills of All Black hooker Dane Coles.

Possessing the pace of a three-quarter, he made two electrifying runs to inspire his side before scoring the match clincher three minutes from time.

McEwan (25) began his career with Southern in Dunedin before spending three seasons under contract to the 1880 club in Germany, returning to New Zealand late last year.

He is a jet-boat driver, an occupation he loves, but he confesses his greatest passion is rugby. Expect to hear a lot more about him.

Arrowtown, missing five of its top-line players who were off shooting ducks, led 5-3 at halftime and trailed just 11-10 from the 57th minute till McEwan’s clincher at the death.

Maniototo needed a last-second penalty goal by Jack Wild to edge Matakanui Combined 14-13 at Ranfurly while Alexandra scored five tries in downing Cromwell Cavaliers 29-10 and now sits second equal on the competition ladder with a crunch game against Arrowtown coming up on Saturday.

 - Bob Howitt

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