South Canterbury ran on their bench and the visitors did rally somewhat, with winger Dan Fransen scoring two tries, but zero competition points from two games after the previous weekend's loss to Wanganui has seen Mid Canterbury plummet from third spot to eighth on the table.
The sums are in Wanganui's favour as they will face winless Buller and East Coast in their next matches, followed by the Bruce Steel Memorial Cup challenge to Horowhenua-Kapiti, and even if they should drop a game along the way, finishing tied with South Canterbury will see Wanganui get priority due to having won the direct game between them.
It wasn't a guarantee Horowhenua-Kapiti would still be the Bruce Steel holders when they face Wanganui, after Wairarapa Bush twice came back at them before losing 37-21 in Levin.
After close opening exchanges at 10-10, Horowhenua Kapiti began to pull away, leading 24-13, before the visitors closed the gap to 27-21 with 15 minutes remaining.
But Horowhenua-Kapiti again showed their composure with first-five James So'oialo getting his third penalty, which was followed by the home side's fourth converted try.
The assets of Horowhenua-Kapiti are clear – So'oialo contributing 17 points with the boot, while Wanganui loan player Timoci Seruwalu scored a double, making it five tries so far since joining his neighbour union.
Their back-to-back wins keeps the hopes of a Meads Cup berth alive.
Prop Sam Gammie scored his second double for Wairarapa Bush this year, while first-five Glen Walters converted one of them and added three penalties to keep his side in the match.
One challenge trophy did change hands on the weekend and it was the oldest in New Zealand provincial rugby, as the Rundle Cup moved back to Greymouth after West Coast held off Buller 34-28 in Westport, which also kept their Meads Cup playoff hopes alive.
West Coast went out to a 22-7 lead after halftime, but had to hold off yet another comeback by Buller this season, who despite being winless have lost three games by less than seven points.
Winger Peter Te Rakau scored two of the five tries by the victors, while his fellow winger Regan Stanton also crossed the tryline, with first-five Tom Reekie adding three conversions and a penalty.
Buller's starting backs Anthony Taiulua, Robbie Malneek and Iliesa Ravudra scored tries, with centre Michael Wells adding all four conversions for his team.
It won't get any easier for the Westport team, coming up to Cooks Gardens to face Wanganui this Saturday.
Another team trying to snap a much longer losing streak is East Coast, winless since 2013, and for just a few minutes in Ruatoria, it appeared that might be possible as they were leading neighbours Poverty Bay 14-5 nearing halftime and then 19-12 inside the last ten minutes.
However, Poverty Bay pulled off their second great escape of the competition after the first week win over Wairarapa Bush – scoring to level 19-19 with two minutes left.
East Coast then had the scrum feed near halfway, only for reserve back Mario Counsell to snatch an intercept and dash off to score beside the posts for 26-19, with only enough time left for the restart with the ball going out to devastate the home side.
Andrew Tauatevalu scored one of Poverty Bay's other four tries, while adding two conversions.
It was a brave turnaround for East Coast after giving up 100 points to South Canterbury the previous weekend, and they were added by an automatic seven point penalty try, while halfback Sam Parkes scored a try and kicked a conversion.
Poverty Bay stay in touch with the Lochore Cup playoff group, while North Otago will be feeling the pressure as they are also outside the Top 8 after another unhappy trip to the North Island, losing 43-21 to Thames Valley in Te Aroha.
In the only non-derby game of the round, Thames Valley had cantered away to a big 33-7 led in the first half, and although the Oamaru team dug in for a stronger showing in the second half with two more tries, Thames Valley also scored more points to slot into the fourth Meads Cup position, while the visitors stay stuck in ninth.
Thames Valley winger Kerrin Lee scored two of his team's six tries, while first-five Reece Broughton added 13 points with the boot.
Results, Week 5
West Coast 34 (Peter Te Rakau 2, Sione Holani, Regan Stanton, Mena Tukana tries; Tom Reekie pen, 3 con) bt Buller 28 (Anthony Tailua, Joel Hands, Robbie Malneek, Iliesa Ravudra; Michael Wells 4 con). HT: 27-16.
Poverty Bay 26 (Andrew Tauatevalu, Tamanui Hill, Can Rowden, Mario Counsell tries; Tauatevalu 2 con, Kelvin Smith con) bt East Coast 19 (Buchanan Maxwell, Sam Parkes tries, penalty try; Parkes con).
Horowhenua Kapiti 37 (Timoci Seruwalu 2, Kalim Kelemete, Joel Winterburn tries; James So'oialo 3 pen, 4 con) bt Wairarapa Bush 21 (Sam Gammie 2 tries; Glen Walters 3 pen, con).
Wanganui 36 (Viki Tofa, Michael Tafili, Lindsay Horrocks, Kaveni Dabenaise, Harry Symes tries; Craig Clare pen, 4 con, pen) bt King Country 19 (Baven Brown, Sean Wanden, Doug Clapcott tries; Evan Reihana 2 con). HT: 24-0.
South Canterbury 41 (Willie Wright 2, Rico Syme 2, Kalavini Leatigaga, Gareth Casey, Kalolo Otuhaha tries; Wright 3 con) bt Mid Canterbury 10 (Dan Fransen 2 tries).
Thames Valley 43 (Kerrin Lee 2, Sam McCahon, Harry Lafituanai, Christian Kelleher, Matiu Abraham tries; Reece Broughton 3 pen, 2 con) bt North Otago 21 (Simon Lilicama, Taina Tamou, Inoke Naufahu tries; Josh Buchan 3 con). HT: 33-7.
