By Stu Piddington

A huge defensive effort saw South Canterbury seal a Meads Cup home semi-final spot on.

Mid Canterbury certainly came to Timaru to play on Saturday and edged out the South Canterbury in most statistics, except the one that mattered most, on the scoreboard.

The 14-0 win in front of home fans did the job and by finishing second on the table the 'Green and Blacks' will host Buller.

The other semi final sees defending champions Wanganui take on fourth placed Wairarapa Bush.

It was the first time this season South Canterbury had not scored at least four tries but it gave the team a taste of finals rugby.

South Canterbury coach Barry Matthews praised the defensive effort but realises his side must step again against Buller.

"It was outstanding defence as Mid Canterbury threw everything at us."

Matthews said the two tries to none victory was a taste of things to come in the semis.

"Sides are better prepared in finals and know what each other is capable of."

It is only the third time since the Heartland Championship was introduced 11 years ago South Canterbury have made the top four.

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Matthews and assistant Grant McFarlane can claim two of those, having also made it all the way to the grand final last year.

It however is a very different team with 17 new caps involved in the 2016 campaign.

Mid Canterbury half back Will MacKenzie feeds the scrum with  Nick Annear looking on.

South Canterbury captain Kieran Coll said he was rapt with the win.

"It was a tough battle but it was never going to be any different.

"Mid Canterbury are a side that keeps coming at you, but the boys stood up."

For South Canterbury halfback Nick Annear was outstanding in the thick of the battle and was like an extra loose forward on defence.

Centre Mosese Aho also kept his big opposite Nete Caucau quiet and also made a couple of telling breaks.

In the forwards open side Matthew Etheredge had a big game, tackling his heart out, while lock Will Joines again showed plenty of spirit.

Prop Matt Fetu used all his 80-plus game experience when he came on after half time and disrupted the Mid Canterbury scrum.

Mid Canterbury's best were loose forward Troy Mangan and captain Eric Duff, while second five Richard Catherwood also played well.

The win however was not without its nervous moments with South Canterbury's defensive systems sorely tested with Mid Canterbury going close several times.

The hosts were also hammered in the penalty count and at one stage in the first have were down to 13 men for six minutes but Mid Canterbury could not take advantage.

The Hammers however lacked the finish when it was needed and rattled by the in-the-face defence.

South Canterbury started the better side and hooker Junior Faavae went over after six minutes, after several drives at the line, with first five Willie Wright adding the conversion. 

Poor handling then cost South Canterbury a couple of try scoring opportunities before Mid Canterbury started to dominate territory and possession.

A flurry of yellow cards then saw one Mid Canterbury and then two South Canterbury players sent to the bin for deliberate infringements when their opponents were on attack.

With 25 minutes gone Mid Canterbury had a great try scoring opportunity from a break out but lost the ball forward after going 60 metres and with the try line in sight.

The Hammers also took two tight heads against an under powered South Canterbury scrum but again poor handling close to the line cost them.

Lock Will Joines then put in a try saving one-on-one tackle to deny the visitors and then South Canterbury bundled another attack into touch right on half time, with desperate defence.

South Canterbury went into the shed at the break with a 12 to five penalty count against them.

Early in the second half South Canterbury bought on experienced propsFetu and  Timaru Tafa and it made a difference in the scrum, putting the acid back on Mid Canterbury.

A superb break by second five Mosese Aho then got wing Maxx Morris away and the lead was suddenly 14-0.  

From there it turned into an arm wrestle with Mid Canterbury creating a couple of opportunities but not finishing off.

After 60 minutes Hammers wing Maleli Sau made a great bust in the mid field and first five Jarred Percival looked likely to score but somehow the South Canterbury defence got back to save the day.

The game then started to lose shape but replacement centre Kevin Moore made his return from injury and made one good bust, which would have heartened the South Canterbury coaches.

South Canterbury 14 (Junior Faavae, Maxx Morris tries; Willie Wright con) Mid Canterbury 0  HT: 8-0

Heartland Championship points: Wanganui 38, South Canterbury 36, Buller 30, Wairarapa Bush 30, Mid Canterbury 27, King Country 25, Poverty Bay 20, North Otago 18, Horowhenua Kapiti 15, West Coast 11, Thames Valley 5, East Coast 3.