Wellington, Oct 10 NZPA - A spirited South Canterbury side overturned a halftime deficit to beat Wairarapa Bush 34-28 in a Heartland rugby match at Timaru today.
Down by 11 points at halftime, South Canterbury kept the visitors scoreless as they roared into life in the second half to notch their first ever win in the Meads Cup division.
It was their first win at home in the Heartland competition for two years and first over Wairarapa Bush since 2003.
The four-try bonus point win also kept their hopes of making the semifinals alive.
The games started brightly for Wairarapa Bush as they scored a try with less than a minute on the clock but South Canterbury fought back to lead 14-7 midway through the half.
But some great attacking rugby from Wairarapa Bush saw left wing Junior Togia score his second try with right wing Tommy Harman and second five-eighth Sam Mitchell adding the others.
Their cause was helped by a faultless kicking display from first five-eighth Byron Karaitiana who converted the tries, including two from the sideline.
Wairarapa Bush however hardly fired a shot in the second half as the South Canterbury loose forwards grabbbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
Prop Savieti Faianga'a had South Canterbury back into the game three minutes into the second half with a strong run at centre and held off the would-be tacklers.
Blindside flanker Tui Tauelangi had two punishing 40m-plus bursts and capped off a fine game with the match winning try after number eight Andrew Scarlett went close from a 5m scrum with 10 minutes left.
South Canterbury then controlled the game, with five-eighth Kayne Wahlstrom keeping the ball in the Bush's half to the finish for a deserved victory Their best on the day were the loose forwards including Eric Smith along with replacement halfback Scott Norton.
Back line youngsters Jimmy Owen and Tanu Suavine had some good touches while left wing Maile Iongi was a handful.
For Wairarapa halfback Nick Risdon had a great first half, causing his opposite to be replaced, while Byron Karaitiana played well outside him.
