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Chilean prop Sergio de la Fuente scored the match-winning try to claim a national title in New Zealand. The try saw Thames Valley winning the 2018 Heartland Meads Championship Final. The competition involves twelve New Zealand provinces, and acts as the lower division behind the Mitre 10 Cup.
Thames Valley won the match and title by securing a 17-12 victory. They did so away from home against South Canterbury in Timaru earlier today.
The unlikely road to glory for Thames Valley saw the team also upsetting Wanganui to win their way into the final. In reaching the final history would be made as never before had Thames Valley or South Canterbury won the Heartland Meads Championship.
At the game’s midway point it appeared that South Canterbury would be the winners. The South Island province had a 12-3 advantage and looked hard to stop.
Thames Valley, though, fought back well to claim the lead in the 68th minute. Having turned over the ball from a South Canterbury error, Thames Valley mounted phases with de la Fuente ultimately scoring. The Chilean prop gave Thames Valley the lead and they would retain it for the final 12 minutes.
de la Fuente has seven test caps for Chile. He made his debut against Tonga at home in 2010 and most recently played test rugby against Brazil in 2016. He started in the 25-22 win over Os Tupis in what was the first ever match in Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) history.
