South Canterbury’s unbeaten run to open the Heartland Championship came to an end with a resounding thud as Mid Canterbury put on an impressive display to claim a 34-18 win.
It enabled them to add the Hanan Shield and Frank Timblick Memorial Trophy to their cabinet.
South Canterbury played with the strong gusty wind in the first half and with much better support at the breakdown than previous matches were soon dominating territory and possession.
However, it was the ‘‘coach killer’’ handling errors that stopped South Canterbury creating opportunities and, unfortunately for the local side, a problem that would continue throughout the game.
Mid Canterbury were resolute in defence and quick to pounce on the few opportunities they received.
Halfback Kieran McClea made some good breaks around the ruck and cleared the ball quickly, and against the run of play Mid Canterbury scored first to give them the early lead.
South Canterbury got back on attack with the forwards taking it up and the backs running it back, too.
But after a quarter of the game they only had two penalties to first five Brayden Dew to show for their efforts, as they took the lead back at 6-5.
Mid Canterbury handled the early pressure and then, playing into the wind, started moving the ball wide to their three-quarters.
They swung the ball back and forth across the field, leading to three tries in the final 10 minutes before the break.
That secured a bonus point and established a healthy 24-6 lead at halftime.
South Canterbury needed to start well in the second half, but it did not happen.
Mid Canterbury scored after just four minutes and when they followed that up with a try in the 60th minute the game looked secure for the visitors.
South Canterbury kept trying and the bench certainly had an impact.
Jimmy Robertson was lively when he came on, while Eafou Tagiaia made his debut on the flank after earlier playing a full game for the South Canterbury A team.
But the Green and Blacks seemed short of ideas, reverting to the same plan that was not working.
They did score twice in the final stanza to add some respectability to the score.
South Canterbury coach Nigel Walsh conceded, ‘‘that Mid Canterbury brought plenty of attitude and played good rugby’’ and while he would not say it, is probably ruing the fact he has about eight front-liners out with injury.
Mid Canterbury coach Matt Winter was very happy with his team’s performance saying he was ‘‘proud of how his boys delivered on their game plan and defended well’’.
In other results North Otago turned a halftime deficit of 26-12 into a 59-33 win over Poverty Bay.
Whanganui comfortably accounted for East Coast 64-19 and Thames Valley beat Buller 40-5.
Wairarapa Bush got home by a point in a 25-24 win over King Country, and Horowhenua-Kapiti did the same, 27-26 over West Coast.
Nine teams are still in the running for the playoff spots. — Supplied
