Nailbiting wins feature prominently in opening-round encounters

Little separated the victors from the vanquished as the third division swung into action.

Two of the four matches went down to the wire before Wanganui and Horowhenua-Kapiti emerged with nailbiting wins over Buller and King Country respectively.

Wanganui prevailed 28-27 at home and Horowhenua-Kapiti escaped with a 9-8 result in Levin.

West Coast were also pushed all the way in Greymouth before prevailing 37-32 over Wairarapa-Bush, who, like Buller, had the consolation of picking up two bonus points.

The only clearcut result came in Timaru, where South Canterbury sent Poverty Bay packing 31-10.

It looked as if West Coast would win in a canter when they led Wairarapa-Bush 22-0 after just 20 minutes.

They were still well clear at 29-12 by halftime, centre James Ward scoring two tries, but Wairarapa-Bush responded with spirit as they took advantage of a significant tailwind after the break.

Wairarapa-Bush first five-eighth Patrick Rimene was a pivotal figure, scoring 17 points, including two tries.

Canterbury referee Scott Herbert found plenty wrong with West Coast's play, penalising them 13 times, including a penalty try, in the first spell and a further eight in the second.

Wairarapa-Bush incurred only six penalties in the match.

Wanganui escaped with a dramatic one-point victory after Buller first five-eighth Robert Aloe's conversion attempt bounced off the upright on the stroke of fulltime.

The home side seemingly had the match sewn up when they scored 15 points in as many minutes immediately after halftime to lead 28-5.

However, they relaxed too soon, with loose and skittery play giving Buller a lifeline.

Three second-half tries to Buller closed the gap, before Aloe narrowly missed his target.

The Wanganui players responded with relief rather than pleasure.

The two halves of the game followed similar patterns, with Wanganui dominant in the early stages and then Buller storming back.

South Canterbury rode to victory on the back of their committed and energetic forwards.

They took full advantage of a lethargic start by Poverty Bay to lead 18-3 at the interval.

Poverty Bay bounced back in the second half, denying South Canterbury possession.

However, Poverty Bay were unable to convert their best passage of the match into points and South Canterbury absorbed the pressure before firing back with tries to Glenn Gould and Mark Cochrane late in the game.

Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Peter Kemp was a relieved man when his side held off King Country by the barest of margins.

King Country camped on Horowhenua-Kapiti's tryline late in the game but were unable to snatch victory.

"And you wonder why some NPC coaches are bald," Kemp quipped.

Horowhenua-Kapiti captain Craig Tansley proudly held aloft the Brian Lochore Trophy after the match.

The dynamic openside flanker was responsible for two crucial turnovers in the dying moments.

However, it was a dull match, saved as a spectacle only by the closeness of the scoreline.

Horowhenua-Kapiti first five-eighth Dion Nepia had a standout performance. He opened the scoring with a penalty three minutes into the match and followed up with another soon after before a 35-metre drop goal early in the second half gave the home side a lead they did not relinquish.

King Country were their own worst enemies at times, highlighted by basic errors like kicking out on the full from the kickoffs.

Kemp was not happy with the overall game.

"It was disappointing, but our set play was good and set us up to play well. King Country stifled play around the edges and we were unable to move it away from those areas, and when we did it wasn't front-foot ball."

Kemp praised locks Tau Taupasu and Brandon Young, plus Tansley and Nepia.

King Country's points came from a first-half try to wing David Kara and a penalty to first five-eighth Michael Blank.

- NZPA