Lawrence adapted best to the greasy conditions, plus its defence was superb. Snow and rain made conditions slippery, but the Lawrence backs had little trouble with their handling, while Heriot dropped passes at crucial times.
Heriot hit the front after six minutes with a Aaron Kimura penalty and led until the 15th minute when, out of the blue, Lawrence winger Bryce Morgan intercepted a pass 78m out and outpaced everyone to score.
Stu Melville converted to put Lawrence in front 7-3. Almost immediately, Lawrence was in again when Morgan kicked loose ball from inside his own half, and then won the kick and chase which followed to touch down handy to the post.
Melville converted and Lawrence led 14-3 lead. Melville added another penalty late in the half and Lawrence went into halftime leading 17-3.
Melville added another penalty after 15 minutes of the second spell to put Lawrence 20-3 in front. Five minutes later, Morgan went in for his third try as Lawrence ran the ball from inside its own half and, with good passing, Morgan took the final pass and scored in the corner.
Lawrence looked safe with a lead of 25-3. Five minutes from the end, Heriot was rewarded with a try to Tim Naylor to make the final score 25-8 to Lawrence.
Lawrence was outstanding: the forwards were well led by Will Hurst at No 8 and flanker Ben Young. Issac Hay and Mark Homer did well at the lineouts, while up front Stu Young and Mitch Turner toiled hard all afternoon.
In the backs, Lance Taylor and Stu Melville played soundly and Sam Wyber and Danny Van de Voort in midfield were superb. They tackled strongly and, when given the chance, ran well with ball in hand. The player to really stand out was winger Morgan who showed extreme pace to score three tries, two of which came from nothing.
Heriot began well, but the two tries midway through the first spell by Lawrence put paid to its chances. Whenever Heriot went on attack, Lawrence closed it out with some excellent tackling. Blindside flanker Adrian Park, who was everywhere, was the best of the Heriot pack.
Blair Young at prop had a strong game, but the backs were completely closed out by Lawrence. Kimura, Mike McHutcheon and Bill Maiono in the Heriot backs were given little chance by the Lawrence defence.
Lawrence will now play Maniototo in the Country Wide final next Saturday at 2.30pm at Lawrence.
By Norman Woods.
Southern Region final
The scores
Lawrence 25
Bryce Morgan 3 tries; Stu Melville 2 con, 2 pen
Heriot 8
Tim Naylor try, Aaron Kimura pen
Halftime: 17-3
