By Stu Piddington

An impressive South Canterbury side have jumped up to second in the Heartland Championship thanks to a 41-10 demolition of Mid Canterbury.

A superb first half from the pack, on the back of a dominant front row performance, had the four try bonus point in the bag at the break and one hand on the Hanan Shield.

The win lifted South Canterbury 20 points, just four adrift of defending champions Wanganui, who remain unbeaten after a 36-19 victory over King Country.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF

South Canterbury's Willie Wright about to score against Mid Canterbury at Alpine Energy Stadium on Saturday.

King Country sit in third on 19 with three teams, with West Coast and Thames Valley on 18, and last year's finalists Horowhenua Kapiti on 17.

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North Otago looked destined to defend the Lochore Cup (for teams placed fifth to eighth) after 43-21 loss to Thames Valley with only three rounds left.

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JOHN BISSET/STUFF

South Canterbury halfback Willie Wright clears the ball against Mid Canterbury at the Alpine Energy Stadium on Saturday.

Buller, who made the top four in 2017, surprisingly remain winless in 2018 after West Coast lifted the Rundle Cup 34-28 in Westport.

At Alpine Energy Stadium South Canterbury got away to a flyer with halfback Willie Wright scoring after five minutes. The 'Green and Black' pack demolished the Mid Canterbury scrum and hooker Matt Fetu burst free with Wright in support.

Five minutes later 19-year-old fullback Rico Syme scored on debut out wide after a good build-up.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF

South Canterbury's Matt Fetu runs with the ball during his side's clash with Mid Canterbury at Alpine Energy Stadium on Saturday.

Midway through the half prop Garret Casey, who had a great game, scored off a lineout drive, having thrown the ball in and joined the maul.

Mid Canterbury finally got into the red zone but were held up over the line and South Canterbury drove them back rapidly from the ensuing five metre scrum to earn a penalty.

On the stroke of half time first five Dan Dorgan stepped the defence and a clever in-pass saw Wright grab his second and land the conversion to make it 22-0.

A huge scrum just after the break gave the backline another opportunity and Syme used his pace to good effect beating his marker on the outside to grab his second.

Right wing Kalavini Leatigaga added South Canterbury's sixth try after 50 minutes when he snuck in at the corner, and Wright's conversion made it 36-0.

South Canterbury then went off the boil and a raft of substitutions meant the game lost some shape.

Mid Canterbury right wing Dan Fransen, who looked dangerous all day, then bagged a double 20 minutes apart but South Canterbury had the last word on fulltime when prop Kalolo Otutaha scored.

There were plenty of heroes for the home side. Casey best game for the province was rewarded with 80 minutes while veteran Fetu was more like a spring chicken, with some great carries. A hit to the chest saw him flattened and it looked he had be knocked but he bounced back.

Lock Veikoso 'James' Poloniati is also impressing at provincial level while blindside Timote Tuipolotu had another good game.

Wright was at his abrasive best at the back of the pack while second five Miles Medlicott is also thriving outside Dorgan.

Centre Shayne Anderson's strong running caused plenty of problems for the Mid Canterbury defence while Syme showed touches of real class.

Coach Barry Matthews was impressed by the start.

"The boys were very good as it is never easy against Mid Canterbury. The scrum dominance was the catalyst for the result."

Matthews also gave his nephew Rico Syme a pass mark.

"Rico was a bit nervous at the start but grew into the game. He played well for a 19-year-old on debut."

However, Matthews was not being drawn on where his side might finish the round robin.

"The goal is to make the final but I've always said it is one game at time."

South Canterbury should be too good for Wairarapa Bush in Masterton on Saturday, meaning they will have won five on the trot, with their only loss the 21-10 defeat to Wanganui in the season opener.

Article added: Monday 24 September 2018