Wakatipu wins coveted cup

Carrick McLellan, of the Wakatipu Premiers, is tackled by a Cromwell player during Saturday's match.

The White Horse Cup has "shifted across the valley" until next season, after Wakatipu beat Cromwell on Saturday.

Coach Kelvin Middleton said the 45-10 final score at the Queenstown Recreation Ground was a "fantastic result" which had secured the coveted cup.

Wakatipu had burst away early in the game with a couple of tries, and despite Cromwell fighting back, "it was always looking" like Wakatipu would win.

The defence by Cromwell's backs was "extremely good" but lapses allowed long-range tries to be scored against them by Wakatipu's dominant forwards, Middleton said.

Cromwell's captain was sidelined due to injury which Middleton said was a huge loss for the side.

Wakatipu's tries were scored by Nathan Reid and Danny King, who both scored two, and Sol Frew, Rich Stevens and Brad Paterson, who all scored one.

Tony Farley kicked five conversions.

Cromwell scored a "deserved" last-minute try which brought its final score to 10.

Wakatipu was celebrating breaking Arrowtown's hold of the cup, which it had held for three years.

Wakatipu has an away game this Saturday in Alexandra.

Arrowtown played a tense match against Alexandra on Saturday, during which it led 24-nil at halftime but was beaten back to a 31-31 score at the final whistle.

Minutes before final time, Alexandra scored a try which was then converted.