Mistakes at crucial times cost Mid Canterbury as they went down 7-13 to Thames Valley in a Heartland rugby championship match in Ashburton today.
Following a scoreless first half Thames Valley struck early after the break with a try to prop Fahina Loumoli and the conversion and adropped goal immediately afterwards to Brendan Clark helped them to a 10-0 lead.
Mid Canterbury captain Jason Gill scored a try midway through the second spell but his goalkickers missed two opportunities to tie the game up, before Thames Valley's Robbie Hooper put more space between the sides with a penalty.
Thames Valley winger Taitusi Ngawaqaqa, one of the few backs who had threatened, looked sure of an easy intercept late in the game but he was chased down by Brenton Connell.
Mid Canterbury turned the ball over and looked to counter attack but a dropped ball cost them any chance of closing the gap.
Fraser Hutchinson impressed at No 8 for Mid Canterbury before leaving the field with an arm injury, before Sefo Makaui combined well with his fellow loosies Gill and Jon Dampney.
Halfback Zane Hiko also impressed with his work rate.
Meanwhile, Wanganui got their campaign underway with a 28-0 win over East Coast at home today.
With nine new players, Wanganui's combinations took a long time to settle but the home side showed enough attacking power to suggest they will threaten most teams this season.
New lock John Smyth, from the Border club in Taranaki, was a standout for the winners, while skipper Denning Tyrell defied the wet conditions with a composed effort at halfback and later first five-eighth.
East Coast's best were hooker Richard Tuhaka and second five-eighth Tikaru Callaghan.
Scores
Thames Valley 13 (Fahina Loumoli try; Brendan Clark dropped goal, con, Robbie Hooper pen) Mid Canterbury 7 (Jason Gill try; John Ellis con). Halftime: 0-0.
Wanganui 28 (Mitieli Dravo, Juan Visser, Logan Vaughan, Pehira Huwyler tries; Denning Tyrell pen, con, Leon Mason pen) East Coast 0. Halftime: 13-0.
