South Canterbury looks set to finish top qualifier for the Meads Cup with one round left to play in the Heartland Championship, as they hunt their fourth title in a row.
The Green and Blacks ensured the opening of the $8.2 million revamp of Fraser Park was a party after notching up a 32-15 win over East Coast that extended their unbeaten run in the championship to 38.
South Canterbury head to Greymouth to take on West Coast in their final round-robin game on Saturday and barring a disaster will seal a home semifinal, likely against neighbours Mid Canterbury.
The other semi is set to be a cracker, with Whanganui hosting Thames Valley.
Their round four clash ended in 16-14 victory to Whanganui, and since then both sides have been racking up some big scores.
The Butcher Boys’ only loss was a one-point defeat to South Canterbury, who through the quirk of the draw have not played Thames Valley.
The Swamp Foxes have racked up 155 points in their last two outings, including an 84-17 rout of Poverty Bay on Saturday.
The big surprise is that North Otago will not play in the Lochore Cup semifinals, as they can no longer sneak into the top eight teams after going down 32-17 to King Country.
The Old Golds have played some very good rugby this season, but have not kept it together for 80 minutes.
At Fraser Park, Ngati Porou looked on for a huge upset going into the final quarter after they led 15-12, but a red card to lock Hoani Te Moana stopped their momentum.
Te Moana tip-tackled South Canterbury no 8 Siu Kakala with the help of a team-mate, and the referee reached for a red card.
A penalty by replacement halfback Faalele Iosua tied the game at 15-15.
South Canterbury then took the lead when they created something from nothing, with wing Lisiate Folau scoring.
East Coast’s discipline then let them down again in the final 10 minutes.
A high shot on Zac Saunders sent the referee reaching for a yellow card, although the official appeared to put the wrong player in the bin.
Two late tries from close range, by replacement hooker Conor Anderson and lock Anthony Amato, inflated the scoreline.
Amato was outstanding, closely followed by Kakala, who was celebrating his 50th game in green and black.
Kakala’s strong running was rewarded with a try just after halftime, while centre Clarence Moli scored in the first half.
Openside Ben Kerr also had a very good game in his debut for the province.
Results (round six)
South Canterbury 32 East Coast 15, Whanganui 72 Horowhenua Kapiti 28, Mid Canterbury 59 Buller 14, King Country 32 North Otago 17, Wairarapa Bush 38 West Coast 31, Thames Valley 84 Poverty Bay 17.
Championship points
South Canterbury 35, Whanganui 31, Thames Valley 29, Mid Canterbury 25, King Country 23, West Coast 18, Horowhenua Kapiti 17, East Coast 15, Wairarapa Bush 12, Buller 10, North Otago 9, Poverty Bay 5.
Amber and black
Former Roncalli College First XV and South Canterbury agegroup rep Marika Parker made his Taranaki and first class rugby debut off the bench on Saturday.
Parker played at prop in Taranaki’s 33-31 win over Manawatu in round eight of the NPC.
The win has moved Taranaki to second on the ladder ahead of the final round next weekend.
