Wakatipu caused a minor upset in defeating Upper Clutha 14-0 in Saturday’s feature Central Otago premier club match in Queenstown.
Unfortunately, the outcome was overshadowed by a terrible injury to Upper Clutha’s halfback Jai Baxter.
The 35-year-old Baxter, who is also Upper Clutha’s club captain, suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula bones midway through the second half, causing the game to be put on hold for 45 minutes while an ambulance was called and Baxter treated.
Baxter, who was then transported to Dunedin Hospital, had broken the same leg in the 2019 club semifinals. He made a full recovery, but this latest episode will undoubtedly spell the end of his eventful playing career.
He was operated on yesterday morning.
A former Otago Country and Otago sevens representative, Baxter has also played club rugby for Clyde Earnscleugh and Alexandra and is an extremely popular and valuable member of the Upper Clutha club.
As it was so wet and cold at the Queenstown Recreation Ground, the other players retreated to their changing rooms after Baxter came to grief.
The game had a late (3pm) start to accommodate a curtain-raiser, and did not finish until around 5.15pm, by which time it was almost dark.
Wakatipu coach Brett Anderson admitted he was “absolutely ecstatic” with his team’s performance against an in-form opponent.
‘‘The guys played with energy and high intensity and executed the game plan to perfection.” he said.
“They weren’t afraid to move the ball in challenging conditions.”
A try by centre Tapa Moeke and three penalty goals by Logan Beggs had Wakatipu ahead 14-0 at halftime, and it remained that way, although Upper Clutha was gaining some momentum until Baxter’s accident.
Down the road at Jack Reid Park, Arrowtown pulled off a desperate 8-0 victory against Maniototo to secure a place in the top four.
Remarkably, it was 0-0 at halftime, a rare scoreline these days, and 3-0 until the 72nd minute when Arrowtown managed a try to flanker Lachie Chambers from a lineout drive.
Arrowtown had spent 20 minutes camped in Maniototo’s 22 without reward, but the introduction of powerhouse prop Matt Flower made a massive difference. Suddenly, the Maggots’ scrum was in hasty retreat, which led to the clinching try.
Special heroes of Arrowtown’s win were captain and lock Malcolm Sutherland, all-action prop Pricee Imlach and left winger Tom Goosey, with plenty of go-forward from veteran flanker Aidan Winter.
Maniototo produced a spirited late revival, with hooker Sam Pringle and flanker Pete O’Malley dominant, but could not breach Arrowtown’s determined defence.
Halfback Ben Maxwell was the standout individual, not for the first time this season, as the Cromwell Goats registered their 18th straight victory, downing Alexandra 46-5 at Anderson Park to retain the White Horse Trophy.
Maxwell contributed 26 points, with three tries and five goals, as the Goats turned in one of their most accomplished performances of the season.
At Omakau, Matakanui-Combined registered its first victory of the season, comprehensively dealing to the Cromwell Cavaliers 41-5, seven tries to one.
- Bob Howitt
