Wakatipu and Maniototo, who have taken turnabout at winning over many seasons, clash at the Queenstown Recreation Ground tomorrow in Central Otago’s feature premier club game.
Of the past 10 contests dating back to 2019, the two clubs have won five each, most games favouring the home side, the most notable exception being the 2019 clash when Maniototo claimed the White Horse Trophy with a desperate last-gasp try.
That trophy now sits in the Upper Clutha clubrooms in Wanaka, so mere championship points are at stake, which both teams dearly want to claim.
Wakatipu presently sit six points adrift of Alexandra — who have the bye — in third place.
Both teams have games against competition leaders Upper Clutha still to come — Alexandra at home and Wakatipu away — in the race to claim one of the top two semifinal spots.
Maniototo coach Ken Wills is looking forward to tomorrow’s rematch, but is frustrated he has lost one of his key players, prop Matt Sullivan, a veteran of more than 100 appearances.
"He popped his shoulder in the game against Arrowtown ... and I doubt we’ll see him again this season.
"We’re not over-endowed with proven front-rowers, so it’s a setback we could have done without."
Wills said coming off the bye following Topp Cup weekend, he was concerned some of his players might have lost a little fitness.
Wakatipu have their speedy winger Conner Hamlin back tomorrow. He was sidelined last weekend after suffering an injury in the Topp Cup.
Hamlin, 32, has been one of the standout players this season, having moved to Central Otago, where he works as a teacher at Wakatipu High School.
He has played most of his rugby in Canterbury, for the Springston club and Ellesmere sub-union.
Two teams who would dearly love to register a victory tomorrow at Anderson Park are Cromwell and Arrowtown.
Their records for the season are identical: played 9, won 1, drawn 1, lost 7.
When they met at Jack Reid Park back in April, they drew a highly entertaining contest 26-26. But it’s been all doom and gloom since.
They have both struggled to contain opponents, Arrowtown conceding 43 tries and Cromwell 45. Having said that, Cromwell led Upper Clutha 10-0 till three minutes before halftime last Saturday before coming unstuck.
Upper Clutha looked anything but a champion team in the first half against Cromwell, but, inspired by winger Ulysse Martineau, eventually got home 29-15.
Tomorrow they take on the much-improved Matakanui Combined team at Wanaka.
Hard to see Matak winning, but it will be good if they can continue their upwards trend.
