Arrowtown coach Dan Eyles has paid his opponent quite the compliment.
He reckons Upper Clutha is probably the best team in the Central Otago premier grade competition this season.
The Cromwell Goats might have an issue with that. They are unbeaten with four straight wins.
That includes a tense 24-23 win against Upper Clutha late last month, so case closed.
"I actually reckon they are the best team in the comp. I think they were unlucky to lose to Cromwell, so we’ve got to really start playing some decent rugby to have a sniff," Eyles said.
Upper Clutha hosts Arrowtown in Wanaka tomorrow. It has just the one loss in four games, whereas Arrowtown has had a mixed season to date.
It made the final last year but is only batting at 50% so far.
The side has posted comfortable wins against the Cromwell Cavaliers and Alexandra but defeats to the Goats and Wakatipu have exposed a few weaknesses.
"It has been a mixed bag. When we’ve come across some tougher opposition we’ve gone into our shell a wee bit.
"I guess we are still trying to find our feet. We started getting there last week, so we are just hoping we can continue on from that."
Arrowtown dispatched Alexandra 49-13 but Upper Clutha also had a big win, beating the Cavaliers 61-14.
Arrowtown has struggled to hold on to the ball and that has been a focus this week.
Veteran Aidan Winter continues to turn back the clock. The loose forward has played more than 200 games for the club and has been an inspiration.
He is also helping coach the side this season.
"We’ve got quite a few young guys in the forward pack this year and he has been taking control and showing them the ways of country rugby."
The other standout player has been second five-eighth Jesse Forsyth. He has been solid on defence, threatening on attack and the glue holding the backline together.
Eyles expects Upper Clutha will look to dominate the forwards exchanges but the team also has some sparkling backs and is dangerous out wide.
A set-piece battle will suit Arrowtown. Eyles would be more comfortable with the ball staying in the middle of the park and away from the fringes.
"They are quite elusive in open play so we don’t want to give [them] space."
