10-07-2025
Another home semi against Alex
Upper Clutha's Sam Masterton grapples with Wakatipu halfback Xavier Sadler during a White Horse Cup fixture in Wānaka last weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Having lost their semifinals the past two seasons, the Wakatipu Premiers rugby side's amped to go one better this Saturday.
And, in a repeat of last year, they'll be home again to Alexandra, who surprisingly tipped them over 24-21 after Waka had beaten them 27-0 in their own backyard the week before.
Wakatipu secured their second place on the table this year after losing to top-of-the-table Upper Clutha in a White Horse Cup challenge in Wanaka last weekend.
They were down 12-3 at halftime, coach Jordan Manihera suggesting his players didn't adjust to playing 90 minutes earlier than usual.
However, for most of the second half they were in the ascendant, needing only a converted try to win, till reserve Paulie Tuala was yellow-carded for not wearing a mouthguard and they conceded a late try.
"We had two tries disallowed and we were creating opportunities but we just weren't managing to finish them," Manihera notes.
He says they're excited to play Alex again — they thrashed them 31-3 at home to start their season then beat them 31-29 at Molyneux Park after trailing 29-12 with 29 minutes to go.
"We proved our resilience when we played them over there in round 2.
"We know Alex's game, we know what they do, we know how to shut them down.
"I think it's a massive opportunity for us to not only right some wrongs from last year, but if we get through it, it'll be a first final for [co-coach] Kapa [Te Rangi Moeke] and me, and we're wanting to go all the way."
Wakatipu welcome back Anton Huisman and Don Lolo who were away last weekend, though that's counter-balanced by season-ending injuries last weekend to Josh Aperahama-Paenganui and Adam Fleming.
Meanwhile, Arrowtown defaulted to Maniototo ahead of their last round-robin — the former finish with only two wins this season, while the latter, after finishing fourth, play Upper Clutha in the other semi this Saturday.
