The Upper Clutha premier rugby team (the Rams) will have to qualify for the preliminary finals of the Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition the hard way, after a bruising 17-15 loss to Wakatipu in Queenstown yesterday (Saturday June 19).

Playing on the heavy Wakatipu ground, the Rams struggled to develop their mobile style of play, succumbing to long periods of physical confrontation around rucks and set pieces.

Despite the conditions suiting Wakatipu’s big ball carries, the Rams had the best of the first half. After absorbing early pressure the Rams attacked with accuracy and were rewarded with a penalty to half back Brady Kingan, followed by a brilliant try to first five Brodie Flannery. 

Flannery chipped over the Wakatipu backs to regather and score under the bar in the 32nd minute of the match to give the Rams a 10-0 lead.

Brodie Flannery made a splash with this solo effort to score under the posts.

That lead was reduced to just five points with a Wakatipu lineout drive delivering the hosts a try on halftime.

Wakatipu continued to flourish in the tight encounters early in the second spell and were rewarded with a converted try to take a 12-10 lead at the 49th minute mark. 

Ram’s ill discipline, and a series of errors handing Wakatipu good field position, led to their third try to stretch the lead to 17-10 with ten minutes left.

Benjamin Carter regathers a kick-off against Wakatipu.

The Rams lifted their accuracy in the final minutes of the match and were rewarded with a Scott Cunningham try on full time with Wakatipu reduced to 13 players after two yellow cards. The sideline conversion was required to send the match into extra time but it was pushed just wide.

“In the first half we were dominant and we needed to replicate that with fresh legs off the bench and unfortunately we didn’t manage to do that,” Rams head coach Garry-John Hape said.

“The guys have got the fight in them and we know it’s there, unfortunately it gets taken away from us with silly things. We can’t keep them in the game through silly errors.”

Hooker Scott Cunningham had a fine match for the Rams capped off by a sideline dash on full time to score in the corner. Loose forward Jackson Campbell was a menace on defence while halfback Brady Kingan distributed well under pressure.

The Rams have shown they can match it with the best sides in the competition but will need to reduce their error rate to maintain pressure if they are to contend for the championship. 

The Rams will play Maniototo in Wanaka this Saturday (June 26) with the winner to play Wakatipu a week later for a spot in the grand final.

In the other elimination final this weekend Arrowtown will play Alexandra, with the winner advancing to play Cromwell for the other grand final spot.

Points:

Tries: Brodie Flannery, Scott Cunningham

Conversions: Brady Kingan

Penalties: Brady Kingan

Other scores:

Cromwell 27 Arrowtown 17

Maniototo 70 Cromwell Cavaliers 5

Alexandra 12 Matakanui Combined 11

PHOTOS: Wanaka App