Much rests on next round

Horowhenua-Kapiti's 18-12 success over Wairarapa Bush on Saturday has ramifications for the Heartland Championship because it ensures much rests on next weekend's round after which the Heartland teams are split into the top tier Meads Cup and Lochore Cup sections.
The previously unbeaten Wairarapa Bush had been primed to ensure their Meads Cup credentials from pool A before tripping up yesterday, and the result left them one of four teams remaining in contention for a top-three placing.
They stay atop the standings on 14 points, and next weekend play third-placed Mid Canterbury, on 10 points. Second-placed King Country, on 13 points, play fourth-placed West Coast, on nine.
A try from lock Lance Tibby midway through the second half proved decisive in King Country's 13-9 win over Thames Valley in Taupo.
West Coast remain a chance for Meads Cup status despite going down 12-23 to Mid Canterbury in Ashburton, with the winners boosted by six penalties from first five-eighth Davey Maw.
In pool B, North Otago emerged from the fourth round as the only unbeaten team following a resounding 38-5 victory over East Coast in Oamaru.
That lifted North Otago to 18 points and along with Wanganui, second on 14, and Buller, third on 13, they will go on to contest the Meads Cup.
North Otago were expertly served by centre Ekeroma Sefo, who scored two tries himself and set up another two, all in the second half.
Winger Stu Neighbours kicked five penalties to earn Buller a hard fought 15-13 win over Poverty Bay in Gisborne.
"We've got a home game against South Canterbury next week and if we win we could be looking at two home games in the next round," a delighted Buller co-coach Craig Neill said.
Last year's Lochore Cup winners Poverty Bay started strongly and scored a try under the crossbar to fullback Kahu Tamatea after only six minutes.
After that the home side lost their way, discipline and confidence for long periods against a Buller side for whom No 8 Jo Yalayala, openside flanker Luke Brownlee, halfback Nathan Thompson and halfback Andrew Stephens were outstanding.
Wanganui scored four second-half tries to bury South Canterbury 30-8 in Timaru.
Down 6-8 at halftime Wanganui responded with 24 unanswered points, including their tries, to cruise to victory.
Heartland rugby championship results
and standings after matches yesterday:-
Pool A
At Taupo: King Country 13 (Lance Tibby try; Jared Morrell 2 pen, con) Thames Valley 9 (David Harrison 3 pen). Halftime: 3-6.
At Levin: Horowhenua-Kapiti 18 (Richard Hussey 2, James Ngatapuna tries; Dion Nepia pen) Wairarapa Bush 12 (John Dodd 4 pen). Halftime: 5-6.
At Ashburton: Mid Canterbury 23 (James Carr try; David Maw 6 pen) West Coast 12 (Corey Simpson 4 pen). Halftime: 14-6.
Standings (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):-
Wairarapa Bush 4, 3, -, 1, 115, 31, 2, 14
King Country 4, 3, -, 1, 77, 52, 1, 13
Mid Canterbury 4, 2, -, 2, 86, 67, 2, 10
West Coast 4, 2, -, 2, 77, 103, 1, 9
Thames Valley 4, 1, -, 3, 44, 95, 1, 5
Horowhenua-Kapiti 4, 1, -, 3, 68, 119, -, 4
Pool B
At Gisborne: Buller 15 (Stu Neighbours 5 pen) Poverty Bay 13 (Kahu Tamatea try; Ian Logan 2 pen, Tamatea con). Halftime: 12-10.
At Timaru: Wanganui 30 (Juan Visser, Mike Thompson, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Denning Tyrell tries; Leon Mason 2 pen, Steelie Koro 2 con) South Canterbury 8 (Sione Tuliakiono try; Mark Tutton pen). Halftime: 6-8.
At Oamaru: North Otago 38 (Ekeroma Sefo 2, Viliami Leo, Joe Mamea, Fa'aitu Tuamoheloa, Jason Forrest tries; Glenn Dickson 4 con) East Coast 5 (Morgan Wirepa try). Halftime: 14-0.
Standings (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):-
North Otago 4, 4, -, -, 146, 43, 2, 18
Wanganui 4, 3, -, 1, 95, 47, 2, 14
Buller 4, 3, -, 1, 92, 86, 1, 13
Poverty Bay 4, 1, -, 3, 68, 75, 2, 6
South Canterbury 4, 1, -, 3, 31, 85, -, 4
East Coast 4, -, -, 4, 17, 113, -, 0 NZPA