South Canterbury continued their tremendous season when scoring three converted tries to beat last season’s Meads Cup champions Wanganui 21-17 in Timaru in their Mitre 10 Heartland championship game.
It was some compensation for a late loss in their round-robin game in Wanganui last year.
It wasn’t the only shock of the day as Buller suffered their first loss when going down to Thames Valley 7-26 in Paeroa.
North Otago had to hold out against a fast-finishing King Country side before taking a 28-26 win in Oamaru. North Otago did make the most of a King Country player being sin-binned to score their final try and a penalty goal while he was off the field in the last quarter. When their player returned King Country scored another try with about four minutes remaining but North Otago were able to hold on.
Heartland Week 4
Thames Valley 26 (Harry Lafituanai, Alex Bradley, Hayden Wisnewski, George Lelenoa tries; Jarrod Goodall 3 con)
Buller 7 (Anthony Tailua try; James Lash con)
HT: 14-7
North Otago 28 (Don Lolo 2, Josh Buchan tries; Dan Lewis 2 con, 3 pen)
King Country 26 (Alex Thrupp, Reece MacDonald tries; MacDonald 2 con, 4 pen)
HT:
Poverty Bay 35 (Brody Lam 2, Isaia Vuki, Everard Reid, Jesse Fleming tries; Andrew Tuatevalu 2 pen; Ethine Reeves 2 con)
East Coast 15 (Sailosi Vatubua, Te Peehi Fairlie tries; Kris Palmer con, pen)
HT: 6-5
South Canterbury 21 (Marac Beckham, Kalavini Leatigaga, Brad Hemopo tries; Willie Wright 3 con)
Wanganui 17 (Timoci Seruwalu try; Craig Clare 4 pen)
HT: 7-14
Wairarapa Bush 24 (Eddie Cranston, Corey McFadzean, Epeli Rayaqayaqa. Soli Malatai tries; Tim Priest 2 con)
Mid Canterbury 60 (Maleli Sau, Willie McGoon 2, Seta Koroitamana, Regan King 2, Nete Caucau, Kurt Polson, Angus Lindsay tries; Jarred Percival 6 con, pen)
HT: 7-27
West Coast 24 (Jared Ferguson 2, Dan Foord, Regan Stanton tries; Sean McClure 2 con)
Horowhenua Kapiti 18 (W Lander, I Ecksteen tries; James So’oialo con 2 pen).
HT: 19-15
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