South Canterbury sit on top of the Heartland Championship table after two rounds with a somewhat bizarre 69-32 win over Wairarapa Bush.
At the Pleasant Point Domain on Saturday, South Canterbury were cruising at 17-0 after 12 minutes, and looked to have things under control courtesy of three tries, including an impressive double to their hard-running No 8 Siu Kakala, who seemed unstoppable.
Wairarapa Bush, however, had their own ideas, and scored three tries of their own in a quick six-minute burst to have the game tied up at 17 apiece.
The try-scoring action continued throughout the half and South Canterbury were up 33-32 at the break thanks to a well-taken try by right wing Peala Matakaiongo on the stroke of halftime.
South Canterbury coach Nigel Walsh likely read the riot act during halftime over his side’s defensive efforts.
Less than a minute into the second half, Matakaiongo had his double as he proved hard to stop with some elusive running.
South Canterbury ran in a further five tries to win comfortably in the end, while Wairarapa Bush failed to trouble the scoreboard in the second half, struggling to get hold of ball in any attacking positions.
Halfback Willie Wright also scored a brace of tries, backing up the breaks, while centre Clarence Moli also impressed with two tries.
Former All Black Hika Elliot scored his first try for South Canterbury after starting at hooker, and replacements Paula Moli and Conor Anderson also got on the scoresheet.
Wright landed seven of 10 conversions to finish with 24 points.
Loni Toumohuni led the side on to the domain for his 50th cap and came on in the second half.
At the end the large crowd went away happy with the win in a 15-try extravaganza. The two bonus-point wins have South Canterbury alone on 10 points, one point ahead of Mid Canterbury, who they face on Saturday at the Ashburton Showgrounds.
Mid Canterbury beat West Coast 48-21, while the only other unbeaten team after two rounds are the Swamp Foxes (Thames Valley), who beat North Otago 24-15.
North Otago are yet to register a win under new coach Scott Barnes but have faced two of the tougher sides first up and are likely to climb off the bottom of the table.
Results (round 2).—
South Canterbury 69, Wairarapa Bush 32; Mid Canterbury 48, West Coast 21; King Country 54, Buller 27; East Coast 30, Horowhenua Kapiti 27; Whanganui 47, Poverty Bay 26; West Coast 38, Poverty Bay 29; Thames Valley 24, North Otago 15.
Points.—
South Canterbury 10; Mid Canterbury 9, Thames Valley 9; King Country, Whanganui 7; East Coast 6; Horowhenua Kapiti, West Coast 5; Buller 4; Poverty Bay 2; North Otago 1, Wairarapa Bush 1.
