Nua book home final against Wanganui
Horowhenua-kapiti will host a surprise Heartland Championship final against Wanganui in Levin this weekend.
Despite a few nervy moments late in the game, Horowhenuakapiti won 18-17 over Buller in their semifinal at Levin Domain on Saturday and will now host the Meads Cup decider against defending champions Wanganui, who tipped up top qualifiers South Canterbury 29-24 in Timaru.
Wanganui have won the Meads Cup five times since 2006, while Horowhenua Kapiti have never had any silverware in the Heartland Championship.
The Nua lads have been the surprise package in this year’s Heartland Championship and dominated most facets of the game against Buller, but couldn’t finish off their opportunities, with mistakes and Buller’s gutsy defence preventing them from scoring.
Horowhenua Kapiti’s backs rarely saw the ball, with their forwards grunting it up all day and influential first five-eighth James So’oialo plugging the corners.
Horowhenua Kapiti had most of the possession and spent a lot of time camped in Buller’s 22, but couldn’t break through.
Buller played for 20 minutes with 14 men as centre Michael Lealava’a and lock Jeff Lepa were yellow carded in the first half for high tackles. They were lucky not to lose a man for a similar offence in the second half.
So’oialo also kicked six penalties, giving Horowhenua Kapiti a 9-3 halftime lead and a 15-3 lead with about 15 minutes to go, before Buller, who were beaten finalists last year, mounted their comeback.
Reserve midfielder Corey Jenkins was put in a hole to score from a scrum move to close the gap to 15-10.
Then Horowhenua Kapiti went on attack and hard-charging No 8 Tyson Maki made a massive break into Buller’s 22.
But Horowhenua Kapiti were penalised at the ruck and then Buller spread the ball and dangerous fullback Anthony Tailua finished off a 90m move, before James Lash slotted the conversion from out wide on the left side.
That gave them a 17-15 lead with about time almost up.
Horowhenua Kapiti worked their way into Buller’s half and So’oialo attempted a dropped goal, which was partially charged down, then Buller were unlucky to be penalised for accidental offside and So’oialo gladly stepped up to slot the kick and win them the game.
Horowhenua Kapiti captain and lock Ryan Shelford was a workhorse, as was prop Robin Praat and flanker Aaron Lahmert.
Lepa was a metre eater with his
carries for Buller, but first fiveeighth Lash was their key man, running the backline and had an impressive kicking game.
In Timaru, underdogs Wanganui came out firing against South Canterbury.
After 30 minutes they led 13-3 and could have been 17 points ahead but a poor pass cost them with a two-on-one overlap.
Instead South Canterbury scored from their own goal line to make it 13-10, but Wanganui scored again to give them a 20-10 lead at halftime.
South Canterbury scored a fortuitous try after halftime, where an attempted penalty bent away from the left upright and ball bounced for chasing second fiveeighth Kevin Moore to score, and the margin was down to 20-17.
Two penalties put Wanganui further in front before South Canterbury scored to close the game again to 26-24.
Wanganui had two tries disallowed, but added a late penalty to give them a five-point buffer and held on at the end, despite South Canterbury throwing the ball around.
Mid Canterbury will host West Coast in the Lochore Cup final. In the Lochore Cup semifinals, Mid Canterbury thrashed Poverty Bay 56-22 in Ashburton, while West Coast beat North Otago 24-14 in Greymouth.