Wakatipu prepared for this crucial contest by slaughtering Cromwell 52-0 in the mud at Queenstown on Saturday, while Upper Clutha relied on the golden boot of Brodie Flannery to edge Alexandra, the only team to have defeated them this season, 23-17 at Molyneux Park.
Upper Clutha go into Saturday’s final qualifying match with a three-point advantage over Wakatipu, their first-round clash at Queenstown having been won by Upper Clutha 17-10.
Flannery, who took over Upper Clutha’s goalkicking role mid-season after prolific scorer Brady Kingan departed for Australia, had averaged just five points a game in seven outings since.
But in bleak, challenging conditions on Saturday he banged over five goals from five attempts, making the difference after the teams scored two tries each.
Flannery’s goalkicking aside, Alexandra could blame their fragility under high kicks for the defeat.
Both of Upper Clutha’s tries, to hooker Scott Cunningham and fullback Henry Schikker, came from soaring up-and-unders that Alexandra let bounce.
"Not securing those high balls cost us," Alexandra coach Lee Wilson said.
"Both their tries came from our errors, not from their creativity. To come back and score two wingers’ tries ourselves, especially when we were struggling for lineout possession, showed character.
"I’m confident we’ll be competitive in the playoff matches ahead."
Standout players for Upper Clutha were lock Andrew Horne, blindside flanker Lachie Garrick, No 8 Jake Burtenshaw and powerful front-rowers Ben McKeich, Cunningham and Fergus Smith.
Alexandra’s best were wingers Jake Denniston and Rhys Gosling and centre Tyler Ford, who created Denniston’s try. Hooker Brad Allan led the team out in his 50th appearance.
Wakatipu made it four quality wins in succession, surprisingly scoring eight tries against Cromwell, remarkable considering the Queenstown surface was a mudbath.
No 8 Anton Huisman used his strength and skill to bag two tries, giving him seven for the season, while fullback Conner Hamlin taunted Cromwell with his speed and elusiveness. His try gave him eight for the season.
Rube Peina converted five of the tries to bring up a century of points. He sits on 105 points, four fewer than Alexandra captain Ford.
Maniototo registered their seventh win of the season, coming from 11-10 down at halftime to beat Matakanui Combined 25-11 at Ranfurly, the game being transferred to the No 2 ground because of the muddy conditions.
Remarkably, Maniototo’s 25 points came from five tries, Ben Maxwell missing all five conversions with the muddy ball.
Maniototo round out their qualifying play away against Arrowtown next Saturday while Matakanui Combined host Alexandra at Omakau.
By Bob Howitt
