STANDOUT: Oliver Foote moved to first five for King Country in their victory over Buller. PHOTO Brayden Lindsay
COUNT the King Country Rams out at your own peril. The team has soared up to fifth in the Heartland Championship standings and kept their chances of qualifying for the Meads Cup alive. A well-earned 44-30 victory against Buller in Westport sees them on 20 competition points and one spot below North Otago, this weekend’s opponents with the winner set to take all. It was the most complete performance King Country have produced this season and they’re on a three-match winning run having knocked over East Coast and Mid Canterbury prior to Saturday’s away win. Coach Craig Jeffries said they were happy going into this weekend’s contest at Owen Delany Park in Taupō as outsiders.
WRITTEN OFF “All the mainstream media and everybody have virtually written us off and given the spot to North Otago. We’re more than happy with that tag and hope to go about our business and knock them over. “Hopefully we can supply the faithful who put some money on us at the TAB every week with a nice wee win.” “They’re a good side. We know North Otago won’t be easy. They’re a quality rugby team and we know they like to give the ball air, so if we want to make the Meads Cup we will have to be at our best and not give them any chances.” Jeffries said they’re primed and ready for this weekend. “We played well against Buller, while they were ahead at halftime, we never felt like we were struggling in that match. We always felt in control and knew if a couple of passes stuck, we’d be away and that’s what happened. “They scored a couple of tries from a couple of chances they had but otherwise we were strong for the entire 80 minutes.” “We played some really good rugby and showed that we’re starting to hit some good form. I was pleased with the guys and their effort. It’s not an easy place to go and win so to get the five points was crucial.” King Country’s tally of 44 points was their highest of the season and could have been more had Jonathon Malo not lost the ball over the line and Kaleb Foote had a try stamped out. “We had two tries that weren’t so we could have beaten them by even more. The boys were clinical.”
SUPERB 20 MINUTES In the clash against Buller, King Country was without instrumental first five Quinn Collard and prop Dan Ross, but their replacements showed their class in an encouraging display. “Our first 20 minutes after halftime were superb. The guys really came out strongly and played some outstanding rugby. It set the platform for our result considering we were up against it early with one of our props going down in the warmups, which forced us to be a man down on the bench.” He said the forwards laid a dominant platform with Dennis Andrews-Peters named player of the day and his fellow propping colleague Mike Bryant a close second. Winger Zach Wickham-Darlington bagged a hat-trick, while Jonathon Malo, who shifted to fullback this week picked up a brace. Flanker Karney Dunster, who put in a monstrous shift was rewarded with a five pointer as was influential captain Liam Rowlands, while first five Oliver Foote shone standing in for Collard. This Saturday they will be without second five Carlos Bellass, who was taken out with foul play early in the contest against Buller. “Our bench was again absolutely superb. Guys came on and really added a lot and that’s made a big difference these past few weeks.
THUGGERY “It was a piece of thuggery and a real shame for Carlos; he has been one of our finds of the season and been playing superbly. “Joe Perawiti came on and did well with his opportunity and will likely come into the starting side against North Otago. “Dan Ross, who missed last weekend is available and it’s going to make things incredibly interesting. We will have some tough calls to make.” King Country looks destined for a home semi-final in the Lochore Cup as worst-case scenario with Buller, Mid Canterbury and East Coast all facing differing challenges. Mid Canterbury in sixth with 18 points, face Whanganui at Cooks Garden, while seventh placed East Coast face an enormous challenge in table-topping South Canterbury, while Buller play Wairarapa Bush in what could be a thriller.
