Sth Canterbury get jump on competition

UNSCATHED: The soft muddy conditions had one plus for Wanganui in that reserve flanker Daniel Fitzgerald came through unscathed in his first game back after injuring his shoulder in August

STEELFORM Wanganui's draw in the mud with King Country could yet prove costly in the fight for a home Meads Cup semifinal as South Canterbury were able to leapfrog them into second spot, while Mid Canterbury continued their unbeaten streak.

On a Pink Batts Heartland Championship week five where all of the other home teams registered wins, Mid Canterbury found winless East Coast a worthy opponent before clicking into gear late in the match to run out 50-32 winners for just their second four-try bonus point.

Down 33-15 at halftime in Ashburton, East Coast came back to 33-25 in the final quarter before the defending champions put the match away.

Matt Thatcher and Gideon Lambrechts both scored two tries, while the team welcomed back linchpin Murray Williams, also among the tryscorers.

South Canterbury relished their work against Thames Valley in Timaru and got the desired result with a 35-19 win.

Paul Fifita scored two of his team's five tries as the side moved two points clear of Wanganui into second spot.

The second and third placed teams will swap opponents this Saturday, as Wanganui will need a strong performance against Thames Valley in Paeroa, while hoping King Country can pull out another committed effort when they host South Canterbury in Te Kuiti.

The other big clash of the weekend was in Levin as table neighbours Horowhenua Kapiti and North Otago, both right on the bubble of the Meads/Lochore groups, fought out a close game, the home team winning 26-22.

The victory comfortably secured them fourth spot and they have an outside chance of hunting down a home Meads Cup semifinal with three weeks left in the round robin.

The party would have continued long into the night in Greymouth as West Coast pulled out a 36-33 victory at the death against Wairarapa Bush, which moves the Coasters into the Lochore Cup group.

In the other game, Buller beat Poverty Bay 36-14 in Westport.

-Results

West Coast 36 (Regan Stanton, Andrew Connors, Brad Houston, Nic Cumming tries; Cumming 3 pen, 2 con, ) Wairarapa Bush 33 (Andrew Makalio 2, Cody Whittaker, Paul Tikomainavalu, Viliami Hala tries; Tim Priest 2 pen, con). HT 18-all.

Wanganui 17 (Roman Tutauha, Bryn Hudson tries; Trinity Spooner-Neera pen, 2 con) King Country 17 (Iliesa Tavuyara, Joe Perawiti tries; Zayne Tipping pen, 2 con). HT: 17-7 King Country.

Buller 36 (Peni Nabainivalu, Iliesa Ravudra, Blair McIlroy, Logan Mundy, Mitieli Kaloudigibeci tries; Andrew Stephens 4 con, pen) Poverty Bay 14 (Tamanui Hill, Murray Hewson tries; Ethine Reeves 2 con). HT: 17-14.

Horowhenua Kapiti 26 (Teegan Minkley 2, Brandyn Laursen; Laursen 3 pen, con) North Otago 22 (Nathan Cargo, Oscar Pamment tries; Ben Palmer 4 pen). HT: 14-8 North Otago.

South Canterbury 35 (Paul Fifita 2, Sam Vea, Nick Annear, Sione Vea tries; Jason Merrett pen, con; Jared Trevathan pen, con) Thames Valley 19 (Tyrone Keith, Jonnie Te Ruki, Hayden Anderson tries; Jonnie Te Ruki con; David Harrison con). HT: 20-7.

Mid Canterbury 50 (Matt Thatcher 2, Gideon Lambrechts 2, Eric Duff, Andrew Letham, Murray Williams, Nete Caucau tries; Andrew Letham 5 con) East Coast 32 (Lennon Carrington, Donny Mill, Courtney Mita, Whakarae Henare tries; Kris Palmer pen, 2 con; Richard Apanui pen, con). HT: 33-15.