South Canterbury top of table after upsetting champs
South Canterbury inflicted Wanganui’s first loss in two years in the Heartland Championship with a heart-stopping 21-17 victory in Timaru.
The defending champions dominated the first half but led only 14-7 at the break.
South Canterbury stormed back and stole the game in the last 10 minutes with tries to wing Kavavini Leatigago and No 8 Brad Hemopo.
The win lifted South Canterbury to the top of the table, leapfrogging Wanganui, Horowhenua Kapiti and Buller to open up a two-point lead..
South Canterbury’s defence proved too tough for Wanganui to break, while the visitors’ ill discipline saw them heavily penalised.
They gave away 10 penalties in the first half.
For South Canterbury, prop JP Koen, lock Luke Brice and Hemopo played well.
The upsets continued with West Coast inflicting Horowhenua Kapiti’s first defeat of the season with a 24-18 win in Greymouth.
The Coasters led all the way with first-five Tom Reekie and fullback Nik Cumming standouts.
Thames Valley also surprised with a four-try, 26-7 win over previously unbeaten Buller in Paeroa.
Hayden Wisnewski’s 50m-plus intercept try that sunk Buller midway through the second half.
The game was held up for 70 minutes after Thames Valley prop Hayden Anderson broke his leg just after the start.
North Otago and Mid Canterbury both kept their Meads Cup semifinal hopes alive with contrasting wins.
The OId Golds edged out fastfinishing King Country 28-26 in Oamaru, after scoring a try and landing a penalty with a King Country player in the bin.
In Masterton, Mid Canterbury inflicted a big loss on Wairarapa Bush, running in nine tries to four in the 60-24 win.
In the battle for the wooden spoon Poverty Bay proved too good for East Coast, scoring five tries in winning 35-15 in Gisborne.