Wairarapa Bush through to final

Wairarapa Bush clinched a place in the final of the AA Rewards Heartland Championship when it defended heroically to beat North Otago 25-19 in Masterton on Saturday.

Wairarapa Bush had to withstand a prolonged assault on its line in the last 10 minutes before it achieved its 19th consecutive championship win on its home ground at Memorial Park.

Both sides scored three tries but the goal kicking of Patrick Rimene, and Wairarapa Bush's greater composure, were vital factors in its win.

North Otago opened the scoring after 11 minutes when, from a turnover, Scott Mayhew made ground and centre Faaitu Tomoheloa weaved 30m through the defence for a fine try.

But Patrick Rimene replied with a penalty from 36m for Wairarapa Bush three minutes later. It took his career points for the union to 466, the most by any player.

North Otago extended its lead after 18 minutes when the pack drove on a lineout take by Tom Wood and flanker Ross Hay crashed over. Alex Davies converted well from near touch and it was 12-3.

But Wairarapa Bush struck back four minutes later when, from an untidy lineout, captain and hooker Joe Harwood collected a pass from fellow front rower Albertus Buckle and crashed over under the posts. Rimene converted to make it 12-10.

Wairarapa Bush took the lead for the first time after 30 minutes when Rimene swooped on the ball from a North Otago mistake and second five-eighths Nathan Riwai-Couch raced away to score in the corner. Rimene converted and it was 17-12.

However, North Otago regained the lead two minutes before the break when, from a quick tap penalty, second five-eighths and captain Karne Kaufana crashed over to score his team's 50th try of the season. Davies converted and it was 19-17 at halftime.

North Otago had a pronounced advantage in possession and territory in the first half and it would have been ahead by more except for some ill-directed passing and handling.

Wairarapa Bush applied all the pressure and, after 14 minutes it paid off. Flanker Sylvo Iro popped up a fine pass in the tackle and wing Junior Tonga finished off in the left corner. Rimene missed the conversion but Wairarapa Bush was ahead 22-19.

The Wairarapa Bush pack continued to dominate and Rimene kicked his second penalty after 21 minutes to make it 25-19.

Wairarapa Bush did all but score several times and, when Kaufana broke out from his own line for North Otago, he lost the ball in the tackle at halfway when a runaway try seemed on.

North Otago drove from a lineout six minutes from the end and it seemed replacement Nathan Cunningham had scored under the posts but referee Matt Standish ruled no try.

Shortly after the forwards drove over the line from a lineout but Standish ruled the ball had been held up in goal. North Otago continued to attack but Wairarapa Bush held on for a thrilling win.

Wairarapa Bush 25 (Joe Harwood, Nathan Riwai- Couch, Junior Togia 1 try, Patrick Rimene 2 con, Rimene 2 pen) North Otago 19 (Faaitu Tomoheloa, Ross Hay, Karne Kaufana 1 try, Alex Davies 2 con) HT: 19-17 North Otago