Having a Lash pays off for Buller
James Lash will hold the key if Buller are to make the Meads Cup final for the second year running.
The diminutive first five has been like a ‘conductor of the orchestra’ for the country’s smallest union so far this Heartland season.
The points scoring machine has also given the Buller record books a pounding.
Tipping the scales at only 72kg, it belies his both powerful and accurate boot.
He kicked 16 points for Buller against Horowhenua Kapiti on Saturday in their final roundrobin match at Westport, which took his season tally to 154 points.
It is the first time in union’s 124-year history anyone had achieved the feat.
The 27-year-old is also Buller’s top try scorer this season with six, which puts him fifth-equal in the Heartland Championship.
The quick thinking Lash grabbed one of those when Mid Canterbury turned their backs, thinking he would kick for goal and he instead took a tap and scurried over.
On Saturday after just 33 games in the cardinal and blue hoops Lash sits second on Buller’s alltime scoring list with 448 points for the union.
While still 131 points adrift of the all-time record held by David Baird, one more season should see that taken care of if not snapped up by a Mitre 10 Cup side.
Against East Coast, Lash also kicked a record equalling seven conversions and the following game he surpassed another of his own records when he scored 25 points against Mid Canterbury – the most points scored by an individual for Buller in a single match.
Add to this his 2016 record when he slotted 36 conversions in a single season.
In Saturday’s Meads Cup semifinal, a re-match against Horowhenua-Kapiti but this time in Levin, Lash will likely grab another record, for most points by an individual in a Heartland season.
It was set by South Canterbury fullback Liam Edwards, who scored 144 points in the 2012 season, and Lash is only four points behind.
He has also managed two of the three drop goals landed in the championship.
His closest rival this season on the points table is Mid Canterbury’s Jarred Percival with 107, while his team-mate Maleli Sau tops the try scorers with 10.
Buller coach Craig Scanlon said Lash was also a very good analytical thinker of the game.
‘‘He understands what is needed. Against Mid Canterbury he was exceptional in the second half. He moved us around the paddock to where we needed to be.’’
Scanlon said as a loan player Lash, from Tasman who plays in Nelson, was perfect.
‘‘James understands the ethos of being a loan player, he fits in very well. He doesn’t think he is more important than anyone else in the team.
‘‘I would say he has made some life long friends in Westport.’’
Lash however is not the only name being added to the record books on the Coast.
West Coast winger Maleli Mudu equalled the most appearances for the province against Wairarapa Bush.
The flying Fijian joined West Coast’s legends Ken Beams and Michael Foster, who both notched up 90 games playing at first five.
Mudu originally arrived on West Coast in 2003 to bolster the ranks of their combined team in the Crusaders Schools Championship.
Meanwhile South Canterbury have also put up some impressive numbers on the way to finishing top of the Heartland table after the round robin.
They scored the most points with 310, with Willie Wright fifth on the individual scoring statistics.
Wright’s tally could have been higher but South Canterbury chose to move the ball around rather than take penalty goal attempts.
That was reflected in the fact Wright landed just one penalty to Lash’s 18.
Wing Kalavini Leatigaga and midfielder Vatiliai Tora also finished third equal on the try scoring list with seven apiece, with South Canterbury grabbing a fourtry bonus point in seven of their eight games, which gave them a four point cushion at the top of the table.