Wakatipu appeals result of White Horse Cup challenge

THE Wakatipu side has lodged an appeal over its game against Cromwell on Saturday, believing it won the game rather than drawing it.

Wakatipu believes it won the game 3130, while Cromwell is adamant the game ended in a 3131 draw.

The game also doubled as a challenge for the White Horse Cup, which Cromwell holds.

Wakatipu led 266 at halftime before Cromwell staged a remarkable comeback in the second half.

However, confusion reigns over the final score.

While the Queenstown players believed victory was theirs, tallying the final score at 3130 after Cromwell apparently failed to kick a penalty, referee Matt Green called it a 3131 draw.

That meant Cromwell retained the coveted cup.

There was no scoreboard in play during the game, leading to mass confusion for the players and supporters from both sides after the final whistle.

Cromwell coach Matt Ludemann said his captain was told before converting a late try the score was 3129 to Wakatipu — the conversion making it 31 points each.

Ludemann said Wakatipu then got possession and held on to the ball in the dying minutes before kicking it out at fulltime.

‘‘We were like ‘what were you doing?’

‘‘We obviously celebrated . . . noone likes a draw but we got the draw [but] we were like ‘sweet, we kept the White Horse’.

‘‘We were confused when they [Wakatipu] started jumping around [celebrating] . . . it was really weird.’’

The celebrations were because Wakatipu believed the score before the conversion was 3128 and the final score was 3130 in their favour.

Wakatipu cocoach Brett Anderson said given the decision was under appeal, it would be ‘‘unwise’’ to comment.

It is unclear whether there was any video footage of the game.

Otago Country Rugby Union chairman Bob Perriam was not at the game, but told the ODT the Wakatipu club had lodged an appeal yesterday afternoon.

He had been aware of the controversy surrounding the final score on Saturday afternoon and said as soon as the judiciary, set up by the Otago Rugby Football Union, had the ‘‘evidence and the people that we need to give it a fair hearing’’, the matter would be examined.

‘‘We’ll certainly have it as soon as we practically can.’’