The Upper Clutha Rugby Club has its name back on the coveted White Horse Cup following a dominant 38-12 win by its premier team (the Rams) over Arrowtown in Wānaka yesterday (Saturday June 18).

The cup, which has been part of Central Otago rugby since 1926, is the local equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield and a club must hold the cup at the end of a season to have its name engraved. 

For Upper Clutha that last occurred in 1972.

“I’m so proud,” Rams head coach Garry-John Hape said.

“To hold onto it and put our name on that cup and be part of the club’s history is pretty humbling as a coach.

“Don McKay was the captain of the ‘72 team and he came in during the week and that in itself meant so much.”

The Rams won the cup with a one point victory over the Cromwell Goats in their first match this season. Since then it has been on the line at each home game with yesterday's match the last defence.

It was also the first match in the play-off series in the Central Otago Premiership Rugby Competition with a place in the semifinals up for grabs.

Playing in perfect but cold conditions the Rams were superb in all facets of the game. With Arrowtown looking to use its forward power the Rams’ defence stood solid and with ball in hand their attack was brutal.

After absorbing early pressure the Rams skipped out to a 17-0 lead before an Arrowtown try closed the gap to 17-7 at half time.

Despite being a man down due to a yellow card the Rams scored first in the second half with a try to captain Lachie Garrick.

Growing in confidence against an Arrowtown side bereft of ideas, the Rams added two further well constructed tries before the full time whistle.

“We know Arrowtown are a tight five kind of team so our tight five needed to compete with them,” Garry said.

“Oliver Stirling [second-five] and Matt Ward [lock] played their 50th match for the club. We wanted to put on a performance for those guys because they do it for us every week.”

Both players had excellent matches with Stirling integral to the defensive line and carrying strongly in midfield.

Wing Adam Breen was in another class with ball in hand. The explosive winger scored a hat-trick of tries demonstrating electrifying pace and a nose for the tryline.

Up front none were better than loose forward Nick Inch who was well supported by fellow loosies Jaiden McDonald and Jake Burtenshaw.

The win catapults the Rams into the preliminary final stage of the competition on Saturday July 2 when they will play either Wakatipu or Matakanui in Wānaka, with the winner progressing into the grand final.

Point scorers:

Tries: Breen (3), McDonald, Garrick

Conversions: Kingan (4), Murray.

Penalties: Kingan

In other matches:

Wakatipu 31 Cromwell Goats 33

Maniototo 26 Alexandra 12

Matakanui 55 Cromwell Cavaliers 5

PHOTO: Steve McArthur