A large crowd from all over the region gathered at Anderson Park for the culmination of a long club season and, in the end, the best side clinched the title after losing just two matches all season.
Maniototo showed its cards early and moved the ball wide which had Arrowtown's defence scrambling but, as it has all season, it held fast and went on to control most of the play in the first quarter of the match.
Maniototo first five-eighth Charlie Hore got the scoring started with a penalty goal after eight minutes and then Arrowtown wing Kane Dodds replied a few minutes later when Maniototo was caught offside.
It stayed 3-3 until the 38th minute when Maniototo second five-eighth Mitchell Lake latched on to a perfectly-timed short ball to crash over under the sticks for a 10-3 halftime lead. Maniototo continued to make most of the play in the second half, just as it had at the end of the first.
It held on to the ball for long periods and Arrowtown just could not get any possession. Hore scored in much the same fashion as Lake soon after the break to extend the lead to 17-3 before Arrowtown hit back in the 67th minute to give it some hope.
No 8 Eddie Sefo scored to cut the lead to nine points. Hore kicked his second penalty of the match four minutes later and then flanker AJ Paton latched on to a superb Lake pass for a try, once again right under the uprights.
Hore was excellent in this game and he combined well with five-eighths partner Lake right throughout the match. Paton was also dominant with ball in hand and hooker Charles Crutchley had a solid game up front.
Crutchley was rewarded with the Central Otago Player of the Year award after the game, capping off a great season for the front-rower.
Maniototo will travel to Lawrence this weekend to play the home side in the Otago Countrywide final.
Central Otago club final
The scores
Maniototo 27
Mitchell Lake, Charlie Hore, AJ Paton tries; Hore 2 pen, 3 con
Arrowtown 8
Eddie Sefo try; Kane Dodds pen
Halftime: 10-3.
