Table-toppers too good for Bay

IT was a tough day at the office for Poverty Bay on Saturday as hosts South Canterbury turned on a second-half clinic in a 60-7 Heartland Championship win at Waimate.

The Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Wekas came up against a well-drilled green and blacks side, who scored nine tries to the Bay’s single five-pointer to blindside flanker Adrian Wyrill.

The win made it six from six for the Heartland defending champions while Poverty Bay dropped to the bottom of the standings.

They are on six points from one win and two bonus points while West Coast, who have lost all six of their matches, are also on six points but have a superior points differential to the Wekas.

Poverty Bay fought hard in the first half to trail 17-7.

Both South Canterbury tries were scored by blindside flanker Cam Russell, who completed a hat-trick in the second half.

First five William Wright converted the two first-half tries after kicking a penalty to open the scoring.

“We were really pleased going into halftime about how much we absorbed,” Poverty Bay head coach Miah Nikora said

“The boys carried a lot of belief going into the second half. The penalty count was against us and they pretty much had all the possession.”

South Canterbury turned up the heat from the restart with an early try to fullback Liueli Simote and Wright sending the conversion over.

The wheels began to fall off for the Wekas when they lost fullback Ethine Reeves and halfback Ruan du Plooy to yellow cards within two minutes of each other.

Prop Toru Noanoa was also sinbinned during the half.

South Canterbury took full advantage, running in tries to winger Tomasi Bikaca, Russell, winger Lisiate Folau, No.8 Siu Kakala, lock Anthony Amato and replacement winger Kalavini Leatigaga.

“We knew they were always going to be tough,” Nikora said. “Missed tackles crept in a bit more and then obviously we went down to 13 men for a chunk of it and then lost another one to a yellow card towards the end.

“So three yellow cards in that second half was a really big blow.”

The Wekas will have some soul searching to do this week in preparation for their Week 7 match against third-placed Thames Valley at Rugby Park on Saturday.

The Swamp Foxes have lost only one game — 23-17 to South Canterbury in Week 1 — and will be keen to maintain their momentum.