King Country celebrated their centennial season by muscling past North Otago to claim a place in the Meads Cup semifinals of the Bunnings Heartland Championship next weekend.
King Country went into their game with North Otago, who were placed three points ahead of them, needing a bonus point win to qualify and they achieved that with a 42-21 victory.
That left it facing an away semifinal with competition leader at the end of regular season play, South Canterbury who swamped East Coast 57-5.
Whanganui secured a home semifinal against Thames Valley with a 46-13 win over Mid Canterbury.
North Otago was the highest finisher in the Lochore Cup qualifiers while Horowhenua Kapiti claimed second place with their upset 44-43 win over Thames Valley.
North Otago will host Mid Canterbury while Horowhenua Kapiti will host Ngāti Porou East Coast.
Bunnings Heartland Championship results:
Thames Valley 43 (Laulea Mau Fangufangu, Telly Hemopo, Calum Wood, Tayne Tupaea tries; Zac Stephens 4 con 5 pen)
Horowhenua Kapiti 44 (Te Atawhai Mason, Aaron Lahmert, Tyler Tane, Joel Winterburn, Willie Paiaua’a, Louis Northcroft tries; Jack Tatu-Robinson 2 con, pen; Kody Edwards 2 con, pen). HT: 34-31
West Coast 17 (Logan Ross, Elliot Smith, Jaime Garland tries; Ross con)
Poverty Bay 41 (Shayde Skudder, Te Peehi Fairlie 2, Hunter Mokomoko, Tamanui Hill, Seth Lundon, Braedyn Grant tries; Christie 3 con). HT: 0-22
South Canterbury 57 (Zac Saunders 3, Conor Anderson, Loni Toumohuni, Salesi Savelio, Theo Davidson, Lisiate Folau, Kalivini Leatigaga tries; Sam Briggs 6 con)
East Coast 5 (Joe Royal try). HT: 19-5
Wairarapa Bush 55 (Eddie Cranston 2, Aseri Waqa 3, Charles Mataitai, Fiula Tameilau, Ryan Wilson, Sam Siaosi tries; Aidan Champion 4 con; Tipene Haira con) Buller 39 (Iliesa Tora 3, Sam Jope, Jesse Pitman-Joass tries; James Lash 3 con, 2 pen; Pitman-Joass con). HT: 29-24
King Country 42 (Kaleb Foote, Zayn Tipping, Conor Dobbyn, Joe Perawiti, Puka Malo, Zach Wickham-Darlington, Charlie Henare tries; Quinn Collard 2 con, pen)
North Otago 21 (Junior Fakatoufifita, Mone Somate, Matt Vocea tries, Ben McCarthy 3 con). HT: 17-14
Whanganui 46 (Timosi Serawalu, Tyler Rodgers-Holden 2, Roman Tutauha, Jack Yarrall, Keightley Watson tries; Ethan Robinson 5 con, 2 pen)
Mid Canterbury 13 (Scorers not provided). HT: 15-6
Meads Cup Semi Finals:
Saturday 15th October
South Canterbury (1) vs. King Country (4)
Pleasant Point Domain, Pleasant Point – 2.30pm
Whanganui (2) vs. Thames Valley (3)
Cooks Garden, Whanganui – 1.35pm
Lochore Cup Semi Finals:
Saturday 15th October
North Otago (5) vs. Mid Canterbury (8)
Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru – 2.30pm
Horowhenua Kapiti (6) vs. East Coast (7)
Levin Domain, Levin – 2.30pm
