Rugby: Business time as Meads and Lochore Cup semi-finalists found

Steelform Wanganui's Simon Dibben tries to shake Horowhenua-Kapiti's Himoana Henare in Saturday's final round robin clash at Cook's Gardens. Photo/ Lewis Gardner

Now it's business time.

But only after some weekend drama was required to sort out the shape of next weekend's Mitre 10 Heartland Championship semi-finals.

Steelform Wanganui's expected win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in a thirteen-try match sealed Thames Valley a trip to Cooks Gardens next week in a rare Meads Cup outing.

The Swamp Foxes went to Timaru on Saturday in third spot and gave second-placed South Canterbury a good run in the 2nd vs 3rd clash but eventually went down 33-24.

The two sides traded the lead throughout the match but it was the Cantabrians who came out on top scoring five tries to four and doing enough to secure second spot and a home semi-final against King Country who jumped into third by beating Mid Canterbury 31-29 in Ashburton.

Brian Matoramusha starred with a hat trick of tries for Mid Canterbury who sneak into the Lochore Cup semi-finals despite the loss after West Coat were docked six points on the back of fielding an ineligible player.

West Coast had been fined $4000 but that was changed to six competition points after being considered by the New Zealand Rugby appeals council.

Mid Canterbury will travel Levin to take on Horowhenu-Kapiti who finished the top Lochore Cup qualifier.

The other Lochore Cup semi-final has North Otago travelling back to Masterton to take on Wairarapa Bush after Saturday's shut out of the same team at the same ground.

North Otago scored three tries in a 24-0 victory which they will hope to repeat in six days time.

Meanwhile, West Coast shook off the bitter disappointment of having a home Lochore Cup semi-final ripped from them with a 62-26 hammering of East Coast.

Regan Stanton led the rout for West Coast scoring a union record equalling four tries in what was Maleli Mudu's 100th appearance in a red and white jumper.

In the other match, Poverty Bay and Buller ended below par seasons in Gisborne with Buller winning 41-27.

Results:

West Coast 62 (Regan Stanton 4, Sean McClure 2, Brad Tauwhare, Steve Soper, Tom Reekie, Maleli Mudu tries; Reekie 3 con; Oliver Dimmick 3 con) East Coast 26 (Epeli Lotawa 2, Morris Siliko, Trent Profitt tries; Ngarangi Haerewa 3 con). HT: 31-21

Wairarapa Bush 0 North Otago 24 (Paul Tupai, Junior Fakataufifita, Hemaua Samisoni tries; Josh Buchan 3 con, pen)

Wanganui 57 (Angus Middleton, Viki Tofa, Tyler Roger-Holden 2, Campbell Hart, Lindsay Horrocks, Kaveni Dabenaise, Kameli Kuruyabaki, Ethan Robinson tries; Craig Clare 5 con; Dane Whale con) Horowhenua Kapiti 27 (T Seruwalu, S MacGregor, H Henara, S Cameron tries; James So'oialo 2 con, pen)

South Canterbury 33 (Rico Syme, Veikoso Poloniati, Zac Sunders, Miles Medlicott, Setefano Sauqaqa tries; Willie Wright 4 con) Thames Valley 24 (Brett Ranga, Christian Kelleher, Kieran Lee, Harry Lafituanai tries; Reece Broughton 2 con)

Poverty Bay 27 (Te Peehi Fairlie, Tori Bosnia, Andrew Petelo 2 tries; Andrew Tauatevalu 2 con; Kelvin Smith pen) Buller 41 (Ravudra 2, James Lash, Wells, Bonisch, Aperahama tries; Lash 4 con, pen).

Mid Canterbury 29 (Dan Fransen, Brian Matoramusha 3 tries; Nathan McCloy 3 con, pen) King Country 31 (Alex Thrupp 2, Chaulain Mabbett-Sowerby, Rob Sherson, Tana Tuhak tries; Evan Reihana 3 con). HT: 12-12