Rugby: Lochore Cup returns to spiritual home

Wairarapa Bush were winners of the inaugural Meads Cup in 2006. Photo / Getty Images

The Lochore Cup was returned to it spiritual home for the first time when Wairarapa Bush beat Buller 15-9 at Wesptport in the final of the second tier Heartland rugby competition today.

Wairarapa Bush, winner of the inaugural Meads Cup in 2006, added the Lochore Cup, named after Wairarapa rugby great Sir Brian Lochore, to their trophy cabinet after playing a canny game against first time finalists, Buller.

It was an evenly-contested match between two similar sides but it was Wairarapa Bush who made their forays into their oppostition's half count.

First five-eighth Jeremy Te Huia was a key figure in the match, running his backline efficiently and making a few bold runs himself.

But it was the accuracy of his kicking boot that separated the sides as he kicked four penalties to Buller's three by halfback Andrew Stephens.

The sides could not be separated at halftime with Te Huia and Stephens each potting a couple as the battle for territory was mostly kept in the middle apart form a couple of forays that were quickly snuffed out by both defences.

Two Te Huia penalties early in the second half had Buller quickly on the backfoot and chasing the game.

Wairarapa's second five Byron Karaitiana poached a dropped goal midway through the half which stretched the lead out to 15-6.

Buller made a desperate bid to save the game in the dying minutes but were rewarded with just another penalty to Stephens as the Wairarapa defence proved unbreachable.

Wairarapa Bush 15 (Jeremy Te Huia 4 pen, Byron Karaitiana dropped goal)
Buller 9 (Andrew Stephens 3 pen). Halftime: 6-6.

- NZPA