The Heartland Championship's Meads Cup semifinals are almost set after another round of big scores.
The competition’s top-four - South Canterbury, Whanganui, Thames Valley and Mid Canterbury - all posted wins in Round 7, with three of the four teams scoring 59 points or more away from home.
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Whanganui and Thames Valley confirmed their top-four spots, with wins over Horowhenua Kapiti and Poverty Bay, respectively.
The Butcher Boys went to Levin Domain and ran in 12 tries in a 72-28 win.
Veteran Samu Kubunavanua, centre Ethan Robinson and wing Josaia Bogileka each scored two tries, while six others also crossed, including Tyler Rogers-Holden, who also booted six conversions.
The Swamp Foxes were equally ruthless in taking out Poverty Bay 71-17 in Gisborne, while Mid Canterbury were too much for Buller to handle in Westport, winning 59-14.
The only top-four side not to crack a half-century was defending champions South Canterbury, who reopened their redeveloped Fraser Park in Timaru after three years with a 32-15 victory over East Coast.
With their 38th straight Heartland victory, the Green and Blacks guaranteed themselves a home semifinal.
Below the top-four, King Country secured at least a Lochore Cup semifinal berth with a 32-17 win over North Otago in Te Kuiti.
The Rams sit just two points behind Mid Canterbury, ready to pounce should the Hammers slip up against Poverty Bay in the final round.
West Coast, despite losing 38-31 to Wairarapa Bush, and Horowhenua Kapiti too are guaranteed Lochore Cup semifinal spots, with Wairarapa Bush and Buller still an outside chance.
HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS - ROUND 7
Mid Canterbury 59 Buller 14
Whanganui 72 Horowhenua Kapiti 28
King Country 32 North Otago 17
Thames Valley 71 Poverty Bay 17
South Canterbury 32 East Coast 15
Wairarapa Bush 38 West Coast 31
HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES - ROUND 8
East Coast vs Wairarapa Bush, Ruatoria
Mid Canterbury vs Poverty Bay, Ashburton
North Otago vs Buller, Oamaru
Thames Valley vs Horowhenua Kapiti, Thames
West Coast vs South Canterbury, Greymouth
Whanganui vs King Country, Whanganui
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