Wairarapa-Bush thump Thames Valley

Wairarapa-Bush picked up maximum points for the second successive weekend when they thumped Thames Valley 41-5 in their Heartland championship rugby match at Paeroa on Saturday.
They and King Country are now the only two unbeaten teams in their pool and they clash in Masterton next Saturday. Coach Graham Cheetham labelled the win over Thames Valley as a "great team effort" although he admitted that while Wairarapa-Bush ran in five excellent tries they probably could have had another five more.
"We probably blew five certain tries through poor handling," he said.
Cheetham said the key to the Wairarapa-Bush victory was the strong start they made with 17 unanswered points being scored in the first 20 minutes.
"We had them under all sorts of pressure early on and it was good to see we were able to turn that pressure into points as well," he said. "We did go into a cruise mode for a little while after that but a few things were said at halftime and we were in control pretty much right through the second half."
Cheetham was pleased with the assertiveness of the Wairarapa-Bush forwards in the rucks and mauls, especially their "cleaning out" of opposition who were looking to play the role of spoiler.
"We were a bit tentative there against West Coast and we wanted to see more aggression this time," he said.
There was also an improved showing from Wairarapa-Bush in the scrums, an area in which were completely dominant in the second spell, while Tomasi Kedarabuka, who had an outstanding all-round game, and Dan Griffin again ensured they more than held their own at lineout time. Leading the way in the loose was skipper Mike Spence, who was always close to the action.
The Wairarapa-Bush backs had ample opportunity to show their attacking skills and apart from a few handling lapses they impressed with their creativeness.
Heemi Tupaea was always dangerous on the counter attack and the inside combination of Hamish McKenzie and John Dodd were astute in their decision making with Manawatu "import" Dodd finishing the game with a personal tally of 21 points.
Kedarabuka was rewarded for a superb individual display by scoring two tries with Dodd, McKenzie and Lance Stevenson also touching down.
Dodd kicked two penalties and five conversions. Dan Hitchcock scored Thames Valley's sole try.
Cheetham said there was no chance of complacency becoming an issue in the Wairarapa-Bush camp in the lead-up to the King Country match.
lNorth Otago were too big, too strong and too fast for last season's Lochore Cup winners Poverty Bay in their Heartland rugby championship clash in Gisborne winning 31-11.
North Otago 31 (Viliami Leo, Ekeroma Sefo, Jeremy Huia tries; Glenn Dickson 4 pen, 2 con) Poverty Bay 11 (Kahu Tamatea try; Scott Leighton 2 pen). Halftime: 13-8.
l First five-eighth Cory Simpson scored 21 points to spur West Coast to a 31-17 Heartland rugby win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin.
Simpson, who scored a try, two conversions and four penalties, was the standout for West Coast as they bounced back from last week's 0-46 drubbing by Wairarapa-Bush and notch their first win of the season.
West Coast 31 (Andrew Gadsby, Jacob Stevens, Cory Simpson tries; Simpson 4 pen, 2 con) Horowhenua-Kapiti 17 (Michael Papps, James Ross tries; Nepia pen, Mahe Gibson 2 con). Halftime: 19-3.
lAn anxious South Canterbury side scraped home 9-5 against East Coast in a Heartland rugby championship match in Timaru..
Neither side played attractive rugby and in the end three penalties by fullback Mark Tutton was enough to see South Canterbury home.
East Coast had the honour of scoring the only try. South Canterbury 9 (M Tutton 3 pen) East Coast 5 (Doone Harrison try). Halftime: 3-5.
l Buller upset Wanganui 19-15 in a hard-fought Heartland rugby championship match in Westport.
Wanganui, last year's Meads Cup runners-up, led by just 15-10 at halftime after failing to capitalise on their possession and not using the wind well. Buller 19 (Josaia Yalayala try, Stu Neighbours 4 pen, con) Wanganui 15 (Dean Barr, Mike Thompson tries; Steelie Koro pen, con). Halftime 10-15.
l King Country were made to graft hard before putting away Mid Canterbury 22-14 in a Heartland rugby championship match in Te Kuiti. They led 5-0 at halftime during a messy spell in which neither side settled. But King Country warmed to their work after the break when their forwards asserted dominance.
King Country 22 (Ronnie Patea 2, Laauli Sapau tries; Jared Murrell pen, 2 con) Mid Canterbury 14 (Brenton Connell, Jason Rickard tries; David Maw 2 con). Halftime: 5-0.- NZPA
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