Topp win spices up predictions
With the top three teams playing the bottom three, the outcome of tomorrow's encounters in the Central Otago premier club competition appear easy to forecast.
Front-runners Upper Clutha will tackle Cromwell at Anderson Park, having beaten them 59-28 in the first round; Wakatipu will tangle with Matakanui Combined at Queenstown, after winning their first clash 45-21; and Alexandra will host Arrowtown at Molyneux Park, having beaten them 32-21 two months ago.
While all that makes for predictable forecasting, spice has been added to the competition following the thrilling Topp Cup victory by Central Region at Alexandra last weekend.
Intriguingly, the Central starting 15 included only two players from Upper Clutha, who won the Central Otago title in 2024 and who have lost only five of their last 45 contests.
The Upper Clutha representatives in the starting 15 were No 8 Jake Burtenshaw, who contributed mightily to Central's 41-38 victory, and hooker Scott Cunningham.
Their colleagues were five players from Wakatipu, four from Alexandra, two from Matakanui Combined and one each from Maniototo and Cromwell.
Even on the reserves bench Upper Clutha were outnumbered, having just one representative there, centre Oliver Stirling, alongside three players from Cromwell, two from Wakatipu and one each from Arrowtown and Alexandra.
Adding additional punch to tomorrow's game at the Queenstown Recreation Ground is the presence of Dean Sinnamon, who romped off with the Topp Cup man of the match award after scoring three tries and dominating in the lineout.
He is, by the way, Central's leading try-scorer this season, with seven touchdowns from as many matches, an amazing statistic given his team is bottom of the competition.
Matakanui Combined are coming off a handsome victory, 42-24 against Arrowtown, their first win since 2023.
It is unlikely they will seriously trouble high-flying Wakatipu, given the magical touches and extreme pace demonstrated by players such as Rube Peina, Jamie Natapu and Conor Hamlin in the Topp Cup, but expect Matakanui Combined to be competitive in the scrums and lineouts .. . and see if Wakatipu can stop Sinnamon scoring a try (as they did in the first round).
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Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Upper Clutha hold on to claim title
The season was almost five minutes too long for Central Otago's champion club Upper Clutha, who dramatically held on for a 39-38 victory over Clutha in the Otago Countrywide club final at Wanaka on Saturday. Ahead 39-24 with seven minutes to play, the Rams, despite being battered and bruised and seriously lacking a goalkicker, were seemingly coasting to victory. Oh, yeah — Clutha had other ideas. In the space of four minutes replacement winger Kurt Botting bolted in for a brace of tries, one after an 80m dash down the touchline. Ace goalkicker Sam Stratford converted both from wide out — giving him six successful kicks from six attempts, contrasting with Upper Clutha's two successes from nine attempts — and suddenly it was 39-38 with three minutes still to play. The Upper Clutha players who had probably been focusing on a cool beer at the conclusion of a long, demanding season, suddenly had to refocus on a fired-up opponent who wouldn't go away. They did it emphatically, pinning Clutha in their 22 through till the final whistle, much to the relief of coach Alex Dickson. "Things got a bit desperate there towards the finish," Dickson said. "But we've got a great team culture where everyone plays for each other and that saw us through in those final moments." It was a challenging final outing for Dickson, who before the game lost goalkicker Brodie Flannery with a hamstring tear, captain Lachie Garrick, bedridden with a 'bug', and flanker Arthur Boutillier with a shoulder injury. The injuries kept coming throughout the match, for both teams. Clutha lost flanker Sam Viliamu, who was taken by ambulance to hospital with a broken shoulder, while two Upper Clutha players, winger Dan O'Shea and flanker Joel Turnbull, both 'popped' their shoulders. Turnbull gallantly played on after having the shoulder 'popped' back in. Upper Clutha effectively won the game in the first half when they scored six tries, thanks to the speed and elusiveness of fullback Henry Schikker, centre Milan Martinovich and winger Jack East. East, who shredded the Clutha defence on many occasions without getting the five-pointer he deserved, claimed the man of the match award, which could just as easily have gone to Martinovich, who will be missed next season when he heads overseas. Midfielder Oliver Stirling, who took over as captain, No. 8 Jake Burtenshaw, who gave his all for 80 minutes and made some telling tackles in those desperate final moments, and front rowers Ben McKeich, Scott Cunningham and Blair Kennedy all turned in massive efforts. Clutha, whose best included lanky lock Tate Colley, flanker Viliamu till he came to grief, ace goalkicker Stratford, try-scoring centre Sylvester Reeves and winger Botting, who electrified the game after coming off the bench. So ends a fabulous season for Upper Clutha, whose trophy cabinet is now stocked to overflowing. The scores Countrywide Upper Clutha 39 Henry Schikker (2), Milan Martinovich (2), Dan O'Shea, Ben McKeich, Caleb Dixon tries; Martinovich 2 con. Clutha 38 Kurt Botting (2), Samoa Viliamu, Sylvester Reeves, Dallas Pickering tries, Sam Stratford 5 con, pen. — Bob Howitt
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Upper Clutha warm favourites for final
The 2025 Upper Clutha rugby team. PHOTO: ODT FILES It has been a near perfect season for the Upper Clutha rugby team who have the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of triumphs when they tackle Clutha in the Otago Countrywide final at Wanaka today. They already have the White Horse Trophy and the Superliquor Trophy (as Central Otago premier club champions) safely installed in their trophy cabinet. And the Countrywide trophy has been resident in Wanaka since they defeated Clutha Valley away 12 months ago. Given their emphatic 35-7 victory over Wakatipu last weekend, Upper Clutha will go into the game as a warm favourite. But they will be missing two individuals who have contributed massively to the team throughout 2025 — halfback Brodie Flannery, who took over the goalkicking when Brady Kingan departed for Australia in April, and giant lock Andrew Horne. Flannery tore his hamstring late in the final against Wakatipu while Horne flew out this week for a holiday in his home country of Scotland. "They've been huge contributors throughout 2025," coach Alex Dickson said. "They'll be missed." Meanwhile, Clutha have lost one of their stars, Pene Tevaga, with a broken leg. However, Clutha do still have winger Junior Samuelu, who scored a brace of tries in the team's 28-25 triumph over West Taieri last weekend, giving him 16 for the season. Clutha showed great resolve in coming back from 0-10 early and 18-25 with 15 minutes to play to beat West Taieri. "We dropped too much ball early," coach Ben Keach said. "We made it hard on ourselves, but their commitment in the final moments was outstanding, if mentally challenging for the coach!" Keach said Clutha's game was based around ball runners. "Our aim is to go forward and use our backs". It is a philosophy not dissimilar to that employed by Upper Clutha, who scored 65 tries in their 14 outings throughout 2025, their solitary loss being under lights to Alexandra. - By Bob Howitt
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Central Otago team of the season
Bob Howitt names a team of the season from the Central Otago premier club competition. 15 Henry Schikker (Upper Clutha) The brand of fullback every coach wants — speedy, enterprising and a reliable tackler. 14 Conner Hamlin (Wakatipu) Possessed of blistering speed. Lightly built but fearless under the high ball. Missed the final with a serious rib injury but still finished with eight tries. 13 Tyler Ford (Alexandra) Class act at centre who guided Alex through to the semifinals again. Scored 116 points. Captained Central to a stirring victory in the Topp Cup contest. 12 Rube Peina (Wakatipu) Inspirational captain who scored 129 points, including all 23 in one contest, and contributed massively to Central's Topp Cup triumph. 11 Jack East (Upper Clutha) After three seasons playing in Victoria, Canada, took possession of the No14 jersey mid-season after a string of injuries. Scored four tries on debut and another couple of crackers in the final. 10 Ben Maxwell (Maniototo) Debut season for the Maggots after a decade starring for Cromwell. His goalkicking and general experience helped Maniototo qualify for the semifinals. 9 Ryan O'Neill (Alexandra) Tough performer whose slick passing helped Alex qualify for the semifinals. A star of the Topp Cup victory. 8 Jake Burtenshaw (Upper Clutha) Nothing between him and Wakatipu adversary Anton Huisman, but a cracking display in the final, including a try, gives it to Burtenshaw again. 7 Sam Chapman (Alexandra) Rare for a loose forward to finish the season as top try-scorer, but he managed it with 12 touchdowns. Sensational in the semifinal clash against Wakatipu. 6 Lachie Carrick (Upper Clutha) Another man-of-the-match performance against Wakatipu in the final. In a class of his own in the lineouts. 5 Dean Sinnamon (Matakanui Combined) Played most of the season as a loose forward for his club, but turned in a man-of-the-match display from lock in the Topp Cup contest. Grabbed three tries there and 11 for his club. Named Central Otago's player of the season. 4 Andrew Horne (Upper Clutha) If it wasn't Carrick stealing opponents' lineout ball on a regular basis, it was Horne. He's off to Scotland for a holiday, meaning he will miss the Otago Country matches. 3 William Holdom (Alexandra) A player with a huge engine and plenty of rugby nous. Played all 13 games for the Armadillos and starred in the Topp Cup win. 2 Scott Cunningham (Upper Clutha) Chalked up his 100th appearance in the semifinal against Maniototo and contributed plenty in the final. 1 Mike Philip (Matakanui Combined) Major contributor, along with Sinnamon, in Matakanui Combined's strong revival throughout the season. Deservedly won Topp Cup selection. Reserves: Jamie Natapu (Wakatipu), Rhys Harrold (Cromwell), Oliver Stirling (Upper Clutha), Anton Huisman (Wakatipu), Will Healey (Alexandra), Blair Kennedy (Upper Clutha), Alex Chubb (Cromwell).
