TrustHouse Wairarapa Bush squeak into Meads Cup play-offs

Wairarapa Bush claimed a Meads Cup place in the Pink Batts Heartland Championship when Horowhenua Kapiti suffered a surprise 31-44 loss to Buller in Levin on Saturday.

Earlier in the competition Wairarapa Bush had beaten Horowhenua Kapiti 33-19 and when both teams ended on 23 points, that earlier win was enough to give Wairarapa Bush the higher finish.

They lost to fellow Meads Cup finalist Wanganui 35-57 but will face South Canterbury in next week’s semi-final in Timaru.

Mid Canterbury, who just got home 39-36 over North Otago will host Wanganui in their semi-final in Ashburton.

Just who will contest the Lochore Cup is still to be decided as King Country are hosting East Coast in a night game at Taupo on Saturday evening.

As it stands Horowhenua Kapiti are the top qualifier while Buller are on 21 points in second. King Country, West Coast and Thames Valley are all on 16 points.

Scores:

Poverty Bay 19 (Tamanui Hill, Kerehama Barrett, Carl Riini tries; Ethine Reeves 2 con)
South Canterbury 62 (Junior Kolisio 2, Paula Fifita 2, Erenimo Tau 4, Jared Trevathan, Theo Davidson tries; Trevathan 4 con, Jason Merrett 2 con)
HT: 14-31

Thames Valley 29 (Hayden Anderson, Josh Elgoran, Shayne Johnson, Tyrone Keith tries; Jonnie TeRuki con; David Harrison 2 con, pen)
West Coast 17 (Jason Wright, Nik Cumming, Isei Lewaqui tries; Cumming con)
HT: 12-17

Horowhenua Kapiti 31 (Luke Harvey 2, Scott Cameron, Perry Hayman tries; Brandyn Laursen 4 con, pen )
Buller 44 (Taione Ratu, Setefano Sauqaqa 3, Revudra, McIlroy tries; Andrew Stephens 3 con, 2 pen)
HT: 3-20

North Otago 36 (Lemi Masoe, Sam Sturgess, Sali Halaeva, Aleki Morris, Cameron Keenan tries; Ben Palmer 4 con, pen)
Mid Canterbury 39 (Matt Thatcher, 2, Tama Tuirirangi, Seta Koroitamana, Ashton Tuck tries; Andrew Letham 4 con, 2 pen)
HT:

Wairarapa Bush 35 (Andrew Makalio, Cody Whittaker, Andy Humberstone 2, Cameron Hayton tries; Tim Priest 5 con)
Wanganui 57 (Michael Nabuliqaqe, Bryn Hudson, Ace Malo, Kamipeli Latu, Samu Kubunavanua, Sam Madams, Steven Perofeta, Trinity Spooner-Neera tries; Spooner-Neera 7 con, pen)
HT: 00- 47 Wanganui

King Country-East Coast playing Saturday night.