The Riccarton Knights clinched the 2016 Queenstown 9s Carnival title on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a golden try in extra time.
The Knights beat Dunedin's East Coast Eagles 12-8 in the final of the day-long rugby league event at the Queenstown Rec Ground, in which a total of 10 teams battled in two rounds.
Three teams each from Dunedin and Christchurch competed in the nine-a-side tournament, based on the NRL Auckland Nines, along with a team from Invercargill, Auckland, the Tumeke Natives, comprising some former members of the Wakatipu Giants and the Warriors Old Boys, including Awen Guttenbeil.
Organiser Paisa Bedggood said he was pleased by the turnout and how the day went, but would take on board advice and feedback from players for next year.
The tournament would return in 2017, but might be moved to the first weekend of December in the hope of slightly more settled weather, he said.
