By Stu Piddington

An upset in Whanganui means South Canterbury will host Heartland rugby's Meads Cup final for just the second time after demolishing King Country.

In Timaru, on Saturday, South Canterbury crushed King Country 58-21 in one semifinal and will look to win the title at home against Thames Valley who ended No. 1 seed Wanganui's hopes of four straight titles with a 17-7 win.

The semifinal results mean a new name will be engraved on the Meads Cup as Thames Valley have never made the final before while South Canterbury's only previous appearance was when they were beaten by Wanganui in Timaru in 2015.

DOUG FIELD/STUFF

South Canterbury prop Garret Casey scores the first of his two tries against King Country in the Meads Cup semifinal at Alpine Energy Stadium in Timaru.

South Canterbury will, however, start favourites having beaten Thames Valley 33-24 in the final round robin game, meaning the well travelled Swamp Foxes return to Timaru for the second time in 14 days, having had a trip to Whanganui in-between.

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South Canterbury are also the only South Island team featuring on finals day in the Heartland Championship with both North Otago and Mid Canterbury losing their Lochore Cup semifinals.

DOUG FIELD/STUFF

South Canterbury lock Veikoso "James" Polonaiti was in rampaging form against King Country in the Meads Cup semi final at Alpine Energy Stadium in Timaru.

Wairarapa Bush, who had lost 24-0 to North Otago in the final round robin game in Masterton, staged a miraculous comeback a week later to win 30-21 at the same venue.

They will make the short trip to Levin to take on Horowhenua Kapiti who also reversed their round robin result, beating Mid Canterbury 34-24.

South Canterbury blew King Country out of the game late in the first half to lead 38-7 at the break and finished the job in the second half, recording the biggest winning margin ever in a Meads Cup semifinal.

DOUG FIELD/STUFF

South Canterbury's BJ Oliver runs strongly against King Country in the Meads Cup rugby semifinal at Alpine Energy Stadium.

King Country were in contention at 7-all midway through the first half when South Canterbury stepped on the accelerator to add four tries, all converted by halfback Willie Wright who was in sublime kicking form and added a penalty for good measure.

King Country rallied in the second half with an early try but two further penalties to Wright meant the margin stayed wide.

King Country grabbed a third try in the 53rd minute to close to 44-21 but two further seven pointers sealed the deal for the home side.

DOUG FIELD/STUFF

South Canterbury's Sione Fa'aoso scores South Canterbury's final try between the posts against King Country in the Meads Cup semifinal at Alpine Energy Stadium in Timaru.

South Canterbury coach Barry Matthews was delighted with the performance.

"It was a huge effort, the best game of the season.

"We showed great physicality, patience and stuck to the game plan.

"I'd hate to single anyone out, it wouldn't be fair. In the playing 15 everyone contributed and the same off the bench, the boys were great."

Matthews was also very grateful to avoid a trip to Whanganui for the final, after the Thames Valley stopped the Butcher Boys' attempt at a fourth straight title.

"Thames Valley must have played extremely well to win there and they certainly won't be an easy opponent in the final but is fantastic to be playing the final here at Alpine (Energy Stadium)."

There were plenty of South Canterbury contenders putting their hands up for man of the match.

Blindside Timote Tuipolotu had a huge game with No. 8 Loni Toumohuni not far behind. Both carried the ball extremely well and were prominent in defence.

Lock Veikoso "James" Polonaiti also made his presence felt, at one stage swatting off King Country defenders as he charged towards the line with the crowd cheering him on.

Prop Garret Casey also impressed. A big lad with great ball skills, he at times looked like a stand-in first five off the mauls, and an excellent performance was rewarded with two tries.

The experienced Matt Fetu, Kieran Coll and captain Nick Strachan also played their parts well, with the latter two very good in the lineouts as well as around the field.

Wright remains a man for the big occasion, great around the paddock with superb goal kicking, landing 10 from 11 for a personal haul of 28 points, just four short of Graeme Dempster's record for the province.

Miles Medlicott, playing his 50th game, was strong at first five and directed play well while Zac Saunders ran hard outside him. Centre Shayne Anderson was again hard to pull down and gave his outsides plenty of opportunities.

Left wing Kalavini Leatigaga remains the most dangerous player with ball in hand, grabbing two tries, while Setefano Sauqaqa found some vintage form and got himself involved in the game.

King Country's best were blind side Kaleb Foote, halfback Zayn Tipping and fullback Declan Barnett while Ratu Vosaki made an impact when he came off the bench.

Leatigaga grabbed South Canterbury's first try he shook off the defender hanging off his jersey to sprint away and then grabbed his second when King Country were caught short out wide after a very good team build-up.

A second team effort saw Sauqaqa go in the opposite corner while two tries late in the half sank King Country. Casey muscled his way over from a penalty drive while Wright stretched out to place the ball against the upright after Saunders went close.

King Country's only try came after fullback Barnett pounced on a fumble from South Canterbury and he went in untouched.

The second half started with Foote muscling his way over for King Country and centre Alex Thrupp finished off a move that started in their own half to make it 44-21.

South Canterbury then started to make changes but it didn't interrupt the rhythm with Casey charging over the line for his second and substitute wing Sione Fa'aoso grabbing one late to complete the scoring.

South Canterbury 58 (Kalavini Leatigaga 2, Garret Casey 2, Setafano Sauqaqa, Sione Fa'aoso, Willie Wright tries; Wright 7 con, 3 pen) King Country 21 (Declan Barnett, Kaleb Foote, Alex Thrupp tries; Evan Reihana 3 con).

Article added: Tuesday 23 October 2018