Queenstown hosted a confident Wanaka on what can only be described as the best grass playing field in the South Island.

With just four minutes played, first blood was drawn by Queenstown with their first attack. New Zealand U20s international, Willem Ebbinge’s diagonal run into space, and consequent cross, was calmly finished by Rover’s forward, Mills, at Wanaka’s far post.

The deflated Wanaka set about drawing level and worked hard to control large spells of the next passages of play. However it was their keeper, Britton Dowling, superbly deflecting a shot over the bar from point blank range in the 20th minute, who kept Wanaka in the game.

Wanaka were inches away from scoring when Everton Furby’s shot from 18 yards hit the right hand post in the 25th minute. Just five minutes later Wanaka scored a deserved goal. Danillo Santana’s shot from 20 yards nestling in the bottom right corner of the Rovers net. So when half time came the scores were even at 1-1.

As the second half began, Wanaka chances came from the lively striker, Steve Pleskun, getting in behind the Rovers backline. It was his cross/shot from wide that found the attacking run of young Harry Grimsdale. He rattled the crossbar from eight yards out.

Rovers were reduced to ten men for the last 12 minutes, when Pleskun is brought down by the Rover’s last defender. Unfortunately, though, Wanaka failed to take advantage of their numerical difference and the final score was 1-1. Wanaka feel disappointed not to have gained all three points.

Wanaka also would also wish Ebbinge, who was a constant threat for Queenstown in the game, a speedy recovery as he dislocated his shoulder in an innocuous challenge midway through the second half.

Man of the Match for Wanaka was centre back Thomas Van Hees. He and the rest of the team have earned a break next week, but will need it to ready themselves for the challenge of playing Dunedin Tech away, on August 3.