Week 2 review - South Canterbury scrape home against East Coast

An anxious South Canterbury side scraped home 9-5 against East Coast in their AA Rewards Heartland Championship match in Timaru today.

Neither side played attractive rugby and in the end three penalties by fullback Mark Tutton was enough to see South Canterbury home.

East Coast had the honour of scoring the only try and it was a beauty 30 minutes into the first half.

First five-eighth Matt Richards mad a nice dab on the blindside before his overhead reverse pass changed the direction of the East Coast attack.

After a couple of quick passes right wing Seamus Kennedy was over in the corner as East Coast took a 5-3 lead.

The second half was a tough physical encounter with neither side gaining any dominance.

East Coast were hammered 12-4 in the penalty count and Tutton landed one of those from just short to halfway to give his side some breathing space.

For South Canterbury, captain Tony Ward worked hard in defence from No 8 while lock James Cullimore and prop Matt Fetu also stood out.

For East Coast, halfback Charlie Harrison was in everything while first five-eighth Matt Richard tried hard to spark his backline.

South Canterbury 9 (M Tutton 3 pen) East Coast 5 (Doone Harrison try). Halftime: 3-5.