South Canterbury upset North Otago in Oamaru on Saturday with a deserved 18-10 win.
North Otago led 7-5 at halftime with Pale Tuilagi converting Jeremy Te Huia's try while winger Malakai Fonua scored the first of his two tries for South Canterbury.
Fonua's second try in the 55th minute converted by Luke Reihana gave South Canterbury a 12-7 lead.
A Tuilagi penalty reduced the deficit to two points before two Scott Norton penalties in the final quarter carried South Canterbury home.
West Coast and Buller moved to the top of pool A on ten points with wins over Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wairarapa-Bush respectively dropping North Otago to third on nine points one ahead of Wairarapa-Bush with two rounds remaining.
Wanganui and Mid Canterbury remain unbeaten in pool B with wins over King Country and Poverty Bay while Thames Valley beat East Coast 20-5 for its first win of the season.
Wanganui, Mid Canterbury and King Country look the teams to go up to the Meads cup round. - Terry O'Neill
