Despite the comprehensive 26-18 score line, this game was far from a one-sided affair. In fact, Upper Clutha must have been looking up at the scoreboard with 10 minutes to go, wondering how it had fallen so far behind.
The game was closely fought with each side enjoying sustained periods of attack. The difference was Arrowtown more often than not converted its opportunities into points whereas Upper Clutha came up clutching at thin air.
Arrowtown centre Rhys Chamberlain was one of the best, setting up the first try of the game to flying winger Jone Nayaloga after only five minutes. It took close on 20 minutes for Upper Clutha to get its first chance, such was the dominance of Arrowtown's start. However, the host grew in confidence and off the back of a few Arrowtown blunders, including committing the cardinal sin of letting the ball bounce in its own 22, Upper Clutha hit back to score out wide.
Arrowtown suffered a big blow shortly after that try when outstanding Number 8 Ben Chisholm was bundled into the back of an ambulance with a dislocated elbow. But as is so often the case, captain Aidan Winter took matters into his own hands sneaking out into the midfield to set up a breakaway try to halfback Simon Williams and giving the visitor a 12-5 lead into the second spell.
Upper Clutha, buoyed by enthusiastic home town support, had the better of the third quarter of the game, adding a penalty before scoring next to the posts to take the lead for the first time.
Poor goal-kicking cost it the extra points but things looked ominous for Arrowtown as it had found itself on the wrong side of the referee and was compounding its problems by uncharacteristically coughing up the ball.
But it seemed as if being behind on the scoreboard for the first time sparked Arrowtown into life. It snatched the lead back almost immediately when replacement winger Daniel Eyles finished off a swift counterattacking move.
Fullback Kane Dodds put an exclamation point on Upper Clutha's disappointment by converting from the sideline whereas an Upper Clutha goal kick had just missed from dead in front.
Upper Clutha heads were down and things only got worse for the host when a strong charge up the middle by Aidan Winter was finished off by the same man a few phases later, stretching the lead to 26-13.
Upper Clutha picked up a consolation try on the final hooter but it was too little, too late and now Arrowtown can seek revenge for last year's loss in the final next Saturday.
Defending champion Maniototo destroyed Clyde-Earnscleugh 39-0 in the other semifinal, to secure home ground advantage.
