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But after comprehensively dealing to Alexandra at Ranfurly on Saturday, 34-13 thanks to a hat-trick of tries from halfback Matt Horne, the Maggots are now serious contenders for a spot in the semifinals.

Coach Nick Love was a contented man after Saturday's performance, Maniototo having lost to Alexandra in April.

"The difference was that when we got into their 22 this time, we nailed the points."

Two of Horne's tries were exceptional solo efforts, one where he toed the ball some 40m, keeping it under control before dotting down.

Maniototo now sits in fifth place, two behind Alexandra, with contests to come against Wakatipu and the bottom two teams Arrowtown and Matakanui Combined.

Wakatipu reversed its first-round loss to Arrowtown, winning the local derby, a free-flowing, entertaining contest, 36-31 at Jack Reid Park.

A week after being 26-0 down at halftime against Matakanui Combined, Arrowtown made another horror start, conceding two converted tries in the first seven minutes.

But from that moment on, it was a rip-roaring contest, with some cracking tries from both teams.

Wakatipu led 17-14 at halftime, then 22-21 and 29-28 before an intercept try put the game out of reach of the locals.

An indication of the remarkable player turnover is that of the 30 individuals who started the corresponding fixture 12 months ago, only seven were on the field for the kick-off on Saturday.

Two of them, great warriors for Arrowtown, were front rowers Thomas McKenzie and Ben Carr, both making their 100th appearances.

Standout players for Wakatipu were No8 Paul Tuala, midfielder Matthew Saunders, wingers James Natapu and Mike Rewi and the super cool fullback Logan Beggs, who contributed 11 points.

Arrowtown's individual star was halfback Cole Berridge, who scored a remarkable 50m solo try and goalkicked accurately.

Upper Clutha made short work of Matakanui Combined at Omakau, leading 28-0 at halftime before winning 42-21 to extend its lead in the competition to an astonishing 16 points.

Brady Kingan converted all six tries to take his aggregate for the season to 93.

Intriguingly, the players in jerseys numbered 11, 12 and 13 all claimed the surname of Stirling, but while two of them, Oliver and Jonty, are brothers, the third Stirling, Gregor, has come to the club from Scotland.

Oliver Stirling scored two tries and was named man of the match.

Upper Clutha's focus, now the first-round title is in the bag, is to retain the White Horse Cup, first against Arrowtown, at Tarras on Saturday, and then against Cromwell, at Wanaka on July 1. It also has to play Wakatipu in Queenstown.

— Bob Howitt

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