Bush demolition gives Hammers much needed confidencePiers Fuller/Stuff Mid Canterbury's Jared Percival tries to break through the Wairarapa Bush defence in Masterton. A 60-24 win over Wairarapa Bush in rugby's Heartland Championship put a smile on Mid Canterbury coach Craig Dunlea's face on Saturday, but only for a while. After starting their 2017 campaign with a win over Poverty Bay, Mid Canterbury slumped with two consecutive losses to North Otago and South Canterbury, so Saturday's demolition of Wairarapa Bush in Masterton gave them much needed confidence. After Wanganui, Mid Canterbury is away to Thames Valley, home to Buller, then away to King Country to finish the round robin. It was Town v Country day, with Canterbury Country taking on Canterbury Metro across the grades, and the only Country side to win was Country Under-48kg, winning 27-12.

Source: Stuff September 20, 2017 01:30 UTC