Mid-Canterbury beat Wairarapa-Bush

Mid-Canterbury put the anxieties of the earthquake in their home region behind them with a comprehensive 30-17 win over Wairarapa-Bush in a Heartland championship rugby match at Masterton today.

The early morning telephone calls to loved ones to ensure their safety seemed to have little effect on the Mid-Canterbury players who overcame a slow start to score 17 unanswered points in the second spell after trailing 13-17.

Mid-Canterbury were at their most impressive up front where they had the better of Wairarapa-Bush in the scrums and lineouts and were always dangerous in broken play, taking full toll of some tentative home team defence.

Mid-Canterbury were the more efficient of the two teams in the backs as well, often creating overlaps with slick passing and strong running.

Wairarapa-Bush would have been disappointed with their display.

They played their best rugby in the first 20 minutes but the longer the game progressed the more Mid-Canterbury took control.

Front rowers Jason Rickard and Tim Perry, lock Dan Dwyer and flanker Nick McKain stood out in the Mid-Canterbury pack and the best of the backs were first-five David Maw and wing Chris Crichton.

Flanker Joss Tua-Davidson and lock Andrew McLean toiled well for Wairarapa-Bush and James Bruce was lively at halfback when he joined the action at halftime.

Mid Canterbury 30 (Chris Crichton 2, Richard Catherwood, Tim Perry tries; David Maw 2 pen, 2 con) Wairarapa-Bush 17 (Cyrus Baker, Nick Olson tries; Jeremy Te Huia pen, 2 con). Halftime: 13-17.

- NZPA