Wanganui centre Jason Temara tries to get away from Buller's double tryscorer, Mitieli Kaloudigibeci, at Cooks Gardens on Saturday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY
A large number of the Buller rugby team are farmers by profession, so they are probably used to putting broken beasts out of their misery - and they did just that in their second straight win over Steelform Wanganui, 40-30 on Saturday.
In a microcosm of the home team's worst Pink Batts Heartland season, the visitors' pervasive outside backs ran roughshod over their rivals in the opening quarter of the Lochore Cup semifinal at Cooks Gardens, whereas Wanganui played like ghosts of seasons past.
Having struggled through several quarters of games this year to put themselves in contention, some desperate cover defence by Wanganui kept most of their previous opponents within the side's striking range.
But after giving away the wind for the first half, woeful tackling let through three tries for a 28-0 blowout after 26 minutes, and while Wanganui rallied to close the gap to 28-20 heading into the back end of the game dominating possession and territory they left themselves far too much to do.
Both teams went on a tryscoring shootout inside the final seven minutes but Buller were already celebrating their second consecutive Lochore Cup final appearance, while for the first time Wanganui were beaten in three season games by South Island coastal teams, to finish seventh in 2013.
For gutted captain Peter Rowe, it was the end of an era that started back when he and the core group came together in their early to mid 20s to carry the team to Meads Cup domination.
Tellingly, while facing squads that were import-loaded, Rowe acknowledged the other sides also had more "team culture" in 2013 a deficiency he had never known with Wanganui right back to the Guy Lennox coaching years.
"That's disappointing to see that [era end], to be the captain of that. It's been a thing all season something lacking, the cohesion of players.
"The new guys didn't pick up and see what it was in years gone by, it's been a shame for them to come in and not get that."
Playing in a veteran forward pack which is beginning to show its age, Rowe said he wanted to continue with Wanganui in 2014, but added that others would be reassessing. What that means will have a big bearing on Karl Hoskin's plans in 2014, the coach confirming his desire to stay for the second year of his contract should the WRFU board decide to continue to back him in their end-of-season review.
But he doesn't have the results to offer the board. Hoskin said on Saturday that like every other loss this year the team had the heart but "went to sleep".
"Decisions didn't go our way, we made some mistakes and everything compounded and that was it.
"I'm still ardent and steadfast that we have the talent in Wanganui to do it.
"I took this job to coach local players, not to manage imports, and it's going to be a project [to develop locals]."
Wanganui rugby supporters voted with their feet as only a small crowd watched Saturday's semifinal they can be forgiving of mistakes, but not when they see the same ones played out every week.
Those who turned up wondered why they bothered as a disjointed Wanganui let winger Ileisa Ravudra cut through and keep going before supporting flanker Luke Brownlee flicked it to the other wing Mitieli Kaloudigibeci for the opening try.
Centre Mike Schmidt-Lealvaa harnessed the wind with his boot, and after reclaiming a chip kick he evaded normally reliable tacklers Sonny Woodmass and Doug Horrocks to set up prop Philip Beveridge in the same corner.
The rout continued as Ravudra made another break, backed by fullback William Saukuru and Kaloudigibeci spun out of a tackle to score his double.
Wanganui's pack had split themselves to try to lead second phases while also securing the breakdown, and the multiple roles didn't work.
Lost tightheads and the lineout not gelling between hooker Roman Tutauha and lock Nick Cranston meant they couldn't get the momentum to protect their backline.
Winger Zyon Hekenui was slightly off with his goal kicking, while attempts to keep Buller clearances in play gave away lineouts. Second-five Pehira Huwyler was again used as a battering ram but simply couldn't break tackles, while halfback Lindsay Horrocks let his frustrations get the better of him in a running debate with referee Grant Stuart.
After the side had given up a 28-point handicap, Cranston and No8 Jason Hughes led the fightback with busts which saw Cranston power under the posts through three tacklers.
Getting to the line again, a backline spread meant winger Sailosi Nagicu had enough space on the end to stretch out and score.
Wanganui's roll continued in the second half as a Woodmass bust saw a long pass where Hekenui scored in the corner, then added a penalty for 28-20 after 54 minutes.
But they would get no closer as dropped ball ruined golden opportunities, despite Woodmass stealing several Buller lineout throws.
Buller's Islander speedsters gambled with a quick lineout inside their danger zone, with Schmidt-Lealavaa and second-five Penijamini Nabainvalu leading the breakout getting the territory for hooker Iliasa Namua to smash over a few minutes later.
Wanganui replied quickly with Lindsay Horrocks moved to the wing due to a lack of back reserves dashing over in the corner but 33-25 with three minutes left could not be enough.
Amazingly, there was still time for two more tries as Buller snaffled a desperate Doug Horrocks pass for flanker Blair McIlroy to crash over, while Wanganui reserve winger Robert Hughes set up fullback Jason Temara right on fulltime.
Buller 40 (Mitieli Kaloudigibeci 2, Philip Beveridge, Iliasi Namua, Blair McIlroy tries; Andrew Stephens 3 pen, 3 con) Wanganui 30 (Nick Cranston, Sailosi Nagicu, Zyon Hekenui, Lindsay Horrocks, Jason Temara tries; Hekenui con, pen). HT: 28-12.