Rugby: Buller puts end to winless streak in 3rd Division

Buller broke a three-year drought, despite rain being the common factor in all four matches in NPC third division rugby.

Wairarapa Bush remained the only unbeaten team after two rounds following a 16-12 win at home over Poverty Bay.

Just one point behind are Buller, whose 21-14 win over Horowhenua Kapiti in Westport signalled their first success in three years.

A superior scrum laid the platform for Buller's win despite the lead changing constantly.

Buller and Horowhenua Kapiti drew their first-round match last week, while Horowhenua beat the same opposition 73-0 last season.

The Buller scrum constantly had Horowhenua Kapiti back-pedalling, while their second phase and lineout ball was generally of better quality.

Both sides ran the ball at every opportunity but intelligent kicking by Buller first five-eighths Len Renwick kept Horowhenua Kapiti pinned in their own territory for much of the match.

Warren Hall made the game safe for Buller just three minutes from fulltime with a well-taken try in the corner.

Tim Manawatu and Chris Alexander were top performers in the Buller backline while Richard Kelly was the best of the tight five.

Wairarapa Bush, who scored all their points in the first half, including the only try of the match, had the edge on Poverty Bay in both the lineouts and scrums.

Young Wairarapa Bush locks Norm Henricksen and James Saipani were outstanding in the lineouts, while the scrum was anchored by a formidable front row of Justin Va'a, Matthew Hoggard and Rakai Tuters.

East Coast were unable to break an eight-year duck at Centennial Park in Oamaru but did manage to come away with a 26-all draw against North Otago.

Both teams scored two tries apiece but it took East Coast most of the first half to get going.

Trailing 6-20 at halftime, East Coast toughed out the wintry conditions in a huddle in the middle while the home team left the field to change into dry jerseys.

Dry jerseys provided little comfort for North Otago, who conceded an early try after the resumption to bring the visitors back into contention. With 13 minutes left the scores were tied 23-all after a second East Coast try.

An exchange of penalties in the remaining minutes left the teams level at the final whistle.

In the match between the two bottom-placed teams, South Canterbury were let down by a lack of discipline in their 15-20 loss to West Coast in Greymouth.

South Canterbury outscored West Coast two tries to one but the Coast's goalkicker and captain, Michael Foster, overcame wet and blustery conditions to land four penalties and a dropped goal.

- NZPA