A superb sideline conversion sealed a 35-34 win for South Canterbury over the defending champion Swamp Foxes in the Heartland Championship on Saturday.
Captain Willie Wright showed no nerves and nailed the kick in the 78th minute to keep his 100% accuracy for the day at Fraser Park, after replacement prop Jack Pani had burrowed over from close range having just come on to the paddock.
Thames Valley did not give up however, and went straight back on the attack through a dozen phases, until a knock-on and the fulltime whistle.
It was a game that featured some superb play at times, no more than when South Canterbury fullback Sioleli Filimoehala scored within 19 seconds of the kickoff, which must be some sort of Heartland record.
Filimoehala caught the kickoff in his own 22m and took off, beating several players; a perfect chip and chase he regained the ball and scored under the uprights to the delight of the home fans.
Inside nine minutes, South Canterbury were up 14-3 after Wright scored and converted, having gone close before that when left wing Sireli Masi’s chip and chase was thwarted by a desperate Thames Valley.
Thames Valley then scored out wide through fullback Quinn Collard, who converted his own try.
With 28 minutes up, Filimoehala scored his second out wide to restore the lead to 11 points.
Thames Valley would not go away though; No 8 Aporosa Vuniyaya went over and Collard added the extras to make it 21-17.
Thames Valley then appeared to have scored on halftime but the referee was unsighted, a break South Canterbury needed.
In the 50th minute Thames Valley took the lead for the first time with a try to hooker Kenan Gillson, and Collard landed the conversion and added a penalty four minutes later to have the visitors up 27-21.
Thames Valley went further ahead when prop Toby Taylor backed up a break from first five Logan Allen, and suddenly South Canterbury needed two converted tries to win.
South Canterbury replacement halfback Jimmy Robertson came up with a piece of individual brilliance when he sold a dummy and sprinted 30m to score.
Wright’s conversion meant the deficit was six points with 15 minutes to play.
South Canterbury, to their credit, stayed calm and came up with the match winner, though coach Nigel Walsh will be ruing the lost scoring opportunities, especially in the first half.
The ‘‘Green and Blacks’’ were great out wide, with Filimoehala, Masi and centre Clarence Moli looking dangerous with ball in hand.
Both locks Anthony Amato and Jack Ruske played well, while Paula Moli impressed at No 8 when he was called on early as a replacement.
For Thames Valley No 8 Vuniyaya had a big game behind a willing pack, and first-five Allen’s big left boot often kept South Canterbury at bay.
Four teams are unbeaten after two rounds, while four teams — including the defending champions and North Otago — are winless.
Somewhat surprisingly, West Coast sit on top, courtesy of points differential, after thrashing East Coast 80-21.
Mid Canterbury beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 40-27, visitors Wairarapa Bush were too good for North Otago, winning 51-24, while Whanganui’s Butcher Boys beat Buller 51-24 and King Country were too good for Poverty Bay, winning 47-26.
South Canterbury should be untroubled on Saturday, away to winless Buller in Westport, with the Whanganui-West Coast clash holding the most interest.
