Ika stars in vital win for the Bush
A fired up Wairarapa Bush looks to have put paid to North Otago’s topfour Heartland Championship hopes with a 38-22 win in Oamaru.
The race for top-four spots in the Meads Cup is a tight one and one loss can prove costly, as not every side plays each other in the round robin.
The win lifts Wairarapa Bush into fourth as they leap-frogged North Otago, who slipped to seventh.
The Bush had the game in the bag at the break up 28-8 and despite the Old Golds’ attempt to climb back they were a bit too predictable.
Wairarapa’s livewire halfback John Ika had a superb game and he was everywhere, setting up tries and scoring one himself.
In Ashburton, West Coast surprised Mid Canterbury with a better than expected performance, going down in a nail biter 34-22.
Defending champions Wanganui remain two points clear at the top after cruising past Poverty Bay 52-30 in Gisborne.
Right wing Te Rangatira Waitokia ran in four of his side’s seven tries in an outstanding performance while centre Blake Hohoia also stood out.
Waitokia’s spree put him on top of the Heartland Championship try-scorers list.
Second-placed South Canterbury had no problems getting past Thames Valley 62-16.
South Canterbury ran in eight tries and were also awarded a penalty try against the Swamp Foxes in Paeroa.
The ‘Green and Blacks’ had the bonus point before the break, up 28-16, but Poverty Bay certainly tore into the visitors especially at the breakdown.
For South Canterbury, new ERIN TASKER/FAIRFAX NZ wing Kalavini Leatigaga bagged a brace of tries while centre Cam Bailey had his best outing for the province. . Buller also won a high-scoring encounter 54-22 over East Coast in Westport to stay in third place. Left wing Stefano Sauqaqa and fullback Anthony Tailua both scored hattricks for Buller.
King Country kept their top-four hopes alive with a 42-18 win over Horowhenua Kapiti in Levin.