A dropped goal to wing Tema Faifua sealed a 20-17 Heartland Championship rugby victory for Buller over King Country in Te Kuiti today.
Faifua's 35m effort midway through the second half of the Lochore Cup match proved crucial as his team held on grimly in the closing minutes.
That result had looked unlikely with Buller on the receiving end of a steady stream of penalties. They were reduced to 14 men on three separate occasions as referee Richard Kelly dished out a succession of yellow cards for high tackles and infringements at the ruck.
While King Country dominated most of the play on the back of a wealth of territory and possession, they were unable to capitalise.
The scores were locked 10-10 at halftime, with both teams scoring a try and penalty goal.
King Country broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half with a try to hooker Nick Rule. Buller No 8 Scott Higginson, who had earlier received a yellow card, turned hero when he scored his team's second try to level the scores 10min later.
Faifua edged his team in front with 20min remaining to set up a tense finish.
King Country came agonisingly close to scoring the matchwinner on several occasions, but Buller's scrambling defence held tight.
Buller 20 (Tema Faifua, Scott Higginson tries; Nathan Thompson pen, 2 con, Faifua dropped goal) King Country 17 (Gabriel Wills, Nick Rule tries; Jared Murrell pen, 2 con). Halftime: 10-10.
