Similar to South Canterbury, the Ashburton team took their preparations for a tough North Island opener seriously – flying up from Christchurch to Palmerston North to stay on Friday night – and it appeared to be working for them at 27-7 by halftime.
Winger Brian Matormusha, second-five Isireli Masiwini, fullback Timoci Nabakeke and lock Eric Duff all scored, with team stalwart first-five Jarred Percival adding three kicks.
However, Percival would only score three more points in the second half as Horowhenua Kapiti, who are celebrating their 125th anniversary, came roaring back with three more tries to nearly snatch the game.
First-five James So'oialo scored and added two conversions, while fullback Himiona Henare, former NZ Heartland winger Willie Paia'aua and No 8 Michael Fermanis dotted down, leaving the home side with two bonus points.
Poverty Bay took the other five point win of the round after a nailbiting 27-22 comeback victory over Wairarapa Bush in Gisborne.
The lead changed hands throughout the match, with visiting No8 Tristan Flutey scoring first, then Poverty Bay getting two tries, before Wairarapa Bush got a converted try to just trail 14-12 at the break.
While Poverty Bay's Ethine Reeves added a penalty, Wairarapa Bush got a converted try and a penalty from first-five Glen Walters and proceeded to hold a tenuous 22-17 lead for most of the fourth quarter.
However, never giving up, the home side somehow managed to conjure up two unconverted tries in the dying minutes to close out a pulsating win.
Te Peehi Fairlie got a double for Poverty Bay.
Wanganui's next opponent, West Coast, played at Te Aroha for the first time and came back to overrun Thames Valley 27-25, possibly scoring four tries for a bonus point, although this was not confirmed by press time.
After an earlier 2pm kickoff, the home side led 22-8 at halftime, scoring three tries through Shaun Hill, Sam McCahon, and Kerrin Lee, while Reece Broughton converted two and added a penalty.
West Coast scored a try seven minutes after the resumption and then got a seven pointer to level the scores 22-22 with ten minutes left.
Broughton added another penalty, but West Coast scored again to get the win.
Ironically it was goal kicking that got North Otago up over Buller in Oamaru, rather than Buller's excellent first-five James Lash pulling it back his team's way, as the home side finished strong for a 30-24 win in another match decided inside the last ten minutes.
North Otago were outscored three tries to four, but Lash could only add two conversions while his opposite Josh Buchan coolly converted all three tries and nailed three penalties, including the last one to put enough distance on Buller after the previous converted try took the home side to 27-24.
Buller scored first after 20 minutes and then traded converted tries with the North Otago, Buller eventually leading 19-10 three minutes into the second half, and then 24-20 when fullback Robbie Malneek got his second try.
But North Otago got home off the ability of their pack, as prop Ralph Darling and flanker Pita Sinanoni were tryscorers, along with winger Simon Lilicama, and then Buchan's accuracy with the boot did not desert him.
Results, Week One
Wanganui 21 (Gabe Hakaria, Simon Dibben tries; Craig Clare 3 pen, con) bt South Canterbury 10 (Garret Casey try; Willie Wright pen, Theo Davidson con). HT: 3-3
King Country 75 (Declan Barnett 3, Dean Church 3, Sam Warden, Shilo Cullen, Alex Thrupp, Evans Reihana, Ratu Vosaki tries; Reihana 2 pen, 7 con) bt East Coast 17 (Hakararangi Tichborne 2, Jack Richardson; Ngarangi Harewa con). HT: 30-7.
Poverty Bay 27 (Te Peehi Fairlie 2, Kelvin Smith, Andrew Petelo tries; Ethine Reeves pen, 2 con) bt Wairarapa Bush 22 (Tristan Flutey, Nicholas Hohepa, Glen Walters tries; Walters pen, 2 con). HT: 14-12.
West Coast 27 (Scorers not provided ) bt Thames Valley 25 (Shaun Hill, Sam McCahon, Kerrin Lee tries; Reece Broughton 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 22-8 Thames Valley.
North Otago 30 (Ralph Darling, Simon Lilicama, Pita Sinanoni tries; Josh Buchan 3 pen, 3 con) bt Buller 24 (Robbie Malneek 2, Iliesa Ravudra, Jack Best tries; James Lash 2 con).
Mid Canterbury 30 (Brian Matormusha, Isireli Masiwini, Timoci Nabakeke, Eric Duff tries; Jarred Percival 2 pen, 2 con) bt Horowhenua Kapiti 24 (James So'oialo, Himiona Henare, Willie Paia'aua, Michael Fermanis tries; So'oialo 2 con). HT: 27-7.
