South Canterbury claim first Heartland win in Whanganui
It’ll take a lot more than words and guns
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we’ll cross the river
- The Humbling River, Puscifer, 2010
By Jared Smith (Pictures supplied by Blake Davison)
South Canterbury has raided the Cooks Gardens fortress to secure their first away victory over Steelform Whanganui in the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship era.
The two top contenders for the 2022 Meads Cup fought out an epic in the rain on Saturday, and ultimately it was the big match composure of the defending champions which saw them start strongly and finish even better to claw their way to a historic 30-24 victory – a road win over Whanganui the only accolade they had yet to achieve since Heartland began in 2006.
The lead changed hands five times as Whanganui tried to overcome a penalty-riddled start and then playing into the hands of a well-set back three for South Canterbury, who played the game of force-back just a little bit better in the territory kicking stakes.
Their try-scoring fullback Liueli Simote, pinpoint goal-kicking first-five Sam Briggs and veteran halfback Willie Wright took a narrow points decision over Whanganui’s brains trust of halves Lindsay Horrocks and skipper Dane Whale, and the goal-kicking fullbacks Ezra Malo and Ethan Robinson.
From there, the big forward pack did the rest with two drive-over tries, including the match-winner in the 75th minute after Whanganui had to play most of the final quarter with 14 men, when lock Peter-Travis Hay-Horton became the newest member of the 2022 ‘Card Club’.
Still unable to play up-tempo at home due to the heavy weather, Whanganui’s narrow loss came down to the little moments.
Early on they struggled to contain South Canterbury’s ball runners like No8 Siu Kakala, gave up a try from a charge down to winger Kalavini Laetigaga not long before halftime, didn’t get the call for another kickable penalty from some potential foul play when leading 24-22 early in the final quarter, and then ultimately Hay-Horton’s red card – which saw Briggs boot the visitors back in front in the 65th minute, and leave Whanganui short when their forwards drove in the winning try.
There was also a number of handling errors, but these were understandable in the face of hard tackling in the slippery conditions and neither side was immune to it, while South Canterbury produced some great cover defence to twice deny Whanganui hooker Roman Tutauha having a chance to score in the corner off breaks set up by player-of-the-day flanker Ben Whale.
Other standouts for the home side were young prop Keightley Watson in his starting debut, while flankers Samu Kubunavanua and Jamie Hughes worked overtime, and winger Tyler Rogers-Holden made some outstanding cover tackles around the bootlaces.
Whanganui were philosophical about the loss, with their bonus point leaving them in second spot, but now having to work hard in their last four games to keep it and secure a home semifinal at least.
“It is disappointing, no-one’s hiding from that fact, but there’s enough positives to give us more work-on’s, than just be too down in the dumps about it,” said coach Jason Hamlin.
“We had two or three lineouts down at their end, and we just weren’t accurate enough, and that first half cost us.
“Not just in tries, but gave them a lot of confidence. They didn’t have to work very hard to get them, and that was the killing part about it all.
“We gave them cheap penalties and cheap possession, and you can’t give that to a young guy like Briggs – he kicks those goals with his eyes closed.
“The discipline stuff around losing a man to the bin hurt us and that just gave them a little bit of momentum to get over.
“The things we talked about were being physical, being present, and for the most part we did that – being in the fight.
“I was really impressed after halftime with how they came back. Our second try was just all composure, ball control, all the things we talk about.
“We made a very good side have to play very well to beat us.”
Captain Dane Whale knew his side was not that far off – but being a little far off against a team which has won 20 straight games against Heartland teams and gave Ranfurly Shield holders Hawke’s Bay a fright is still too far.
“Giving them piggy backs down into that 5m to 10m zone, and they were just able to drive three tries over.
“We know where we need to be at that level, but I suppose our discipline just let us down, and the little ones [moments] – if you can put them away, then you’re not down in that position.
“Back to the drawing board. There’s still a good culture in this team, so one loss isn’t going to put us down the toilet.
“We just need to keep working, keep that culture, and work into next week.”
Whanganui gave away the first four straight penalties of the match, and with that territory, Kakala, second-five Paula Fifita and lock Anthony Amato were dangerous, opening gaps on each side before Simote found the gap and ran through to score with Briggs converting.
The home side got one back against the run of play when they forced a turnover in the midfield and centre Timoci Seruwalu just took off to run under the posts.
Far from discouraged, Wright and Briggs continued to pepper Whanganui with chip and cross kicks, getting two lineouts in the corner, and on the second attempt, the pack expertly drove hooker Conor Anderson over the tryline for 14-7 in the 15th minute.
Finally getting a penalty of their own, Whanganui got into position to grubber into South Canterbury’s in-goal, keeping the pressure on from the drop-out, as centre Kameli Kuruyabaki and the other new starting prop in Brad Fountain hit the line hard.
Watson and others all had a go, Horrocks recycling expertly, and then winger Alekesio Vakarorogo showed great strength to ground the ball under two tacklers, Malo slotting the extras.
Whanganui were starting to get traction, but in a big momentum switch, Whale taking a penalty quick tap and going for a long dart saw the ball lost, and when South Canterbury worked back with another probing kick, Malo saw his clearance charged down and Leatigaga won the foot race in-goal just three minutes before halftime.
As the rain intensified so did the pressure, and when Whanganui got a penalty to go to the attacking lineout, No8 Semi Vodosese showed incredible strength to smash through the defensive line and then drag three defenders over near the posts in a 30m bulldozing run.
Malo put Whanganui ahead, then narrowly missed a penalty to extend the advantage just before Robinson was scheduled to replace him.
Whanganui still had position but squandered it with a loose pass and then penalty when Simote and centre Zach McKay broke away from the scrum win, with Briggs slotting the clutch kick in tough conditions.
South Canterbury’s lead didn’t last long as Rogers-Holden got caught high by Fifita, who was given a yellow card, and Robinson slotted his own long-range penalty for 24-22 entering the final quarter.
But despite the lead and a man advantage, Whanganui could not land the vital blow, as just four minutes later after a long South Canterbury forwards drive they lost Hay-Horton and Briggs had his team back in front.
While it was still 14 vs 14, Whanganui got back down for an attacking lineout and only desperate cover defence prevented Tutauha scoring, and then Briggs produced an outstanding 50-22 clearing kick.
With seven defending eight, South Canterbury drove from the lineout, shifting the angle of the pincher movement, and were rewarded with the winning try under the heap.
South Canterbury 30 (L Simote, C Anderson, K Leatigaga, unknown tries; S Briggs 2 pen, 2 con) bt Whanganui 24 (T Seruwalu, A Vakarorogo, S Vodosese tries; E Malo 3 con, E Robinson pen). HT: 19-14.
| South Canterbury | ||||||||||
| Steelform Whanganui | ||||||||||
| Thames Valley | ||||||||||
| King Country | ||||||||||
| North Otago | ||||||||||
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | ||||||||||
| Ngāti Porou East Coast | ||||||||||
| Mid Canterbury | ||||||||||
| Buller | ||||||||||
| Poverty Bay | ||||||||||
| Wairarapa Bush | ||||||||||
| West Coast | ||||||||||
| *TIEBREAKERS: 1. Head to head result. 2. Points differential. 3. Tries scored. 4. Points scored. 5. Coin toss. | ||||||||||
