KEY POINTS:
An anxious South Canterbury side scraped home 9-5 against East Coast in a Heartland rugby championship match in Timaru today.
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 and it was a beauty 30 minutes into the first half.
First five-eighth Matt Richards mad a nice dab on the blindside before his overhead reverse pass changed the direction of the East Coast attack.
After a couple of quick passes right wing Seamus Kennedy was over in the corner as East Coast took a 5-3 lead.
The second half was a tough physical encounter with neither side gaining any dominance.
East Coast were hammered 12-4 in the penalty count and Tutton landed one of those from just short to halfway to give his side some breathing space.
For South Canterbury, captain Tony Ward worked hard in defence from No 8 while lock James Cullimore and prop Matt Fetu also stood out.
For East Coast, halfback Charlie Harrison was in everything while first five-eighth Matt Richard tried hard to spark his backline.
South Canterbury 9 (M Tutton 3 pen) East Coast 5 (Doone Harrison try). Halftime: 3-5.
BULLER v WANGANUI
Buller upset Wanganui 19-15 in a hard-fought 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, with first five-eighth Nathan Thompson kicking the ball behind the Wanganui defence, took control in the second half and three penalties from Stu Neighbours was enough to carry them to victory.
Buller 19 (Josaia Yalayala try, Stu Neighbours 4 pen, con) Wanganui 15 (Dean Barr, Mike Thompson tries; Steelie Koro pen, con). Halftime 10-15.
WEST COAST v HOROWHENUA-KAPITI
First five-eighth Cory Simpson scored 21 points to spur West Coast to a 31-17 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.
Hooker Andrew Gadsby and wing Jacob Stevens also crossed the line for the visitors.
Horowhenua-Kapiti's tries were scored by Michael Papps and James Ross, with replacement Mahe Gibson converting both.
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.
- NZPA