Rugby: South Canterbury lay on the tries

Poverty Bay 33
South Canterbury 52

South Canterbury second five-eighths Faa'atu Tuamoheloa celebrated his 103rd game in the green and black colours with a superb display in his side's 52-33 Heartland Championship win against Poverty Bay in Gisborne today.

The strong-running No 12 scored one try and had a hand in many of the South Island team's eight tries-to-four victory. The win keeps them on track for a place in the top-four playoffs, with two round-robin games remaining.

The visitors took control from the kick-off and led 26-7 after 20 minutes, having scored a bonus-point four tries.

Poverty Bay dominated the next 20 minutes, closing the gap to 26-25 at halftime.

However, three tries between the 50th and 56th minutes took the game away from the home side, whose tackling continues to let them down.

Poverty Bay hit back with a try to prop Jone Lesi in the 63rd minute to salvage a bonus point but their Meads Cup hopes are all but over.

They are sixth with 12 points, needing to beat Thames Valley away in the penultimate game and then East Coast at home in two weeks, both with bonus-point wins.

Poverty Bay 33 (Paul Tikomainaivalu, Nick Wilson, David Philander, Jone Lesi tries; Scott Leighton 2 cons, 3 pens) South Canterbury 52 (Kali Latu 2, Sam Vea, Eric Smith, Liam Edwards, Jared Trevathan, Faa'atu Tuamoheloa, Sekope Maea tries; Liam Edwards 6 cons). HT: 25-26.

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