King Country put out of contention

Mid-Canterbury ended King Country's semifinal hopes in dramatic fashion as the top-four were decided with a week to spare.

Poverty Bay, Mid-Canterbury and Wairarapa-Bush all enter the final week in contention for the top qualifying spot, with just one point separating them, while Horowhenua-Kapiti sealed fourth with a six-point buffer over King Country and South Canterbury.

Controversy reigned in Taupo after leaders Mid-Canterbury scraped home 20-14 over King Country, who were convinced prop Glen Mulgrew had scored a late try.

Mulgrew was ruled to have been held up, handing Mid-Canterbury the win and ending King Country's playoff chances.

Leading 17-3 at halftime, Mid-Canterbury were forced to defend into a stiff breeze for most of the second half.

Mid-Canterbury winger Matangi Halaufa scored their only two tries, while second five-eighths Matt Dunlea was successful with both conversions and notched 10 points with the boot.

Poverty Bay drew level with previous leaders Mid-Canterbury by earning maximum points with a 30-3 win over South Canterbury in Gisborne.

Poverty Bay scored four quality tries in wet conditions, two in each half, and went close on a number of other occasions.

First five-eighths Scott Leighton, who was in fine touch, kicked 10 points and powered through the defence to score the second try six minutes before halftime to give them an 18-3 lead.

Third-placed Wairarapa-Bush set up a tense clash against Mid-Canterbury in Ashburton next Saturday with a 42-7 win over West Coast in Masterton.

The game wasn't as entertaining as the final scoreline might suggest, with both teams guilty of turning over possession with monotonous regularity.

Wairarapa-Bush led 22-7 at halftime and ran in six tries, but bombed several others through basic handling and passing mistakes.

Wairarapa-Bush lock Stu Smith was a towering figure at lineouts and was a diligent worker in the rucks and mauls, flanker Brian Saolele was terrier-like in his pursuit of the loose ball and No 8 Mike Robinson was a powerful runner in broken play.

In Levin, Horowhenua-Kapiti successfully defended the BJ Lochore Trophy by comprehensively defeating Buller 54-19 and booking their playoff place.

The boisterous Levin crowd were treated to a well-oiled eight-try performance by Horowhenua-Kapiti.

The home side led by 17-14 at halftime but raced away in the second half, with Horowhenua-Kapiti hooker Josh Dawson playing his 50th NPC game for the province.

Top four

* Poverty Bay

* Mid-Canterbury

* Wairarapa-Bush

* Horowhenua-Kapiti


- NZPA


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