Southern sides lead Heartland table after Week 2
By Jared Smith (Picture by Kiwi TV)
The pride of the Hanan Shield Districts sits on top of the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship standings after a couple of big wins in Week 2 on Saturday.
North Otago will be eyeing a couple of big trophies in the next two weekends, as they topped the table following a 50-3 smashing of the long-travelling Wairarapa-Bush in Oamaru.
The game was virtually over at 31-3 come halftime, giving the southerners confidence before they head to Ruatoria this weekend to challenge East Coast for the Bill Osborne Taonga, knowing the Coasters lost away to Wairarapa-Bush in Week 1.
To do so would set up the first real ‘super-clash’ of the season, as undefeated and defending Meads Cup holders South Canterbury will bring the Hanan Shield to Oamaru in Week 4.
South Canterbury extended their Heartland record streak to 23 games, travelling to Taupo to defeat King Country 45-21.
The hosts had led 14-0 early, but being such a polished outfit, the Cantabrians then poured on 31 unanswered points before halftime to set up a comfortable win.
The third Hanan Shield Districts team in Mid Canterbury were not as successful in their trip to Ruatoria, as East Coast made their first successful defence of the Taonga, winning 19-8.
That leaves the Ashburton union stuck down the bottom table on zero points with King Country and Horowhenua-Kapiti, who lost 48-28 in a try-scoring shootout with West Coast in Levin.
Despite the long trip from Greymouth, the Coasters led 27-13 at halftime and went on with it in the second stanza.
The true test of whether this is season is West Coast’s return to respectability will be during the next three games with Thames Valley, Whanganui and South Canterbury.
The Swampfoxes followed up their win over Whanganui with a victory at home, but only just against Poverty Bay, winning 24-17 in Te Aroha.
The visitors led 12-0 early and held a narrow 12-10 advantage at halftime, before Thames Valley took control in the second half for a 24-12 turn around, before Poverty Bay scored late to give themselves a chance.
Results, Week 2
Thames Valley bt Poverty Bay 24-17. HT: 12-10 Poverty Bay.
East Coast bt Mid Canterbury 19-8. HT: 5-3.
West Coast bt Horowhenua-Kapiti 48-28. HT: 27-13.
South Canterbury bt King Country 45-21. HT: 31-14.
North Otago bt Wairarapa Bush 50-3. HT: 31-3.
Whanganui bt Buller 13-5. HT: 10-5.
