**The King Country Rams celebrate winning the Bill Osborne Taonga.**

The Paparata Farms King Country Rams have brought the Bill Osborne Taonga back to King Country after a thrilling 45–41 victory over Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin on Saturday.

Having surrendered the taonga to the same team last season, the Rams produced an impressive opening performance in the Heartland Championship to reclaim it.

By Andrew ‘Chainsaw’ McCullough

Always a tough venue to travel to, the Rams headed south on SH1 somewhat underprepared for the opening round. Coach Aarin Dunster, however, remained confident his side would perform — and they delivered.

The Rams scored seven tries in an entertaining contest, although the final scoreline flattered the home side.

King Country had established a 16-point lead with just six minutes remaining before conceding two soft tries to allow Horowhenua-Kapiti back into the contest.

The Rams made an ideal start, with Taupō prop Carey Cornelius-Peina crashing over after five minutes following a powerful passage of forward play.

**Rams captain Liam Rowlands receives the Bill Osborne taonga from Horowhenua captain Kahn Fotuali'i.**

The two big forward packs then went toe-to-toe, with King Country hooker and captain Liam Rowlands scoring two tries from strong forward-driving attacks as the sides went to halftime locked at 17–17.

Horowhenua-Kapiti came out strongly after the break, scoring two quick tries to take a 29–17 lead.

The Rams responded through substitute second-five Jose Malimoce, who made an immediate impact with his strength and game-breaking ability. He finished off a superb move after receiving a perfectly timed cut-out pass from Tairoa Crean.

That sparked a dominant 20-minute spell for King Country.

Impressive flanker Reeve Satherley crossed after following up on a superb break by Malimoce, before replacement lock Dylan Wind added another try following a scintillating backline move.

Taupō Marist's Logan Patterson then finished off another sweeping attack after the Rams had run the Horowhenua-Kapiti defence ragged.

With the try putting King Country 45–29 ahead, the Rams appeared to have the match under control.

Two late consolation tries brought the home side back within striking distance, but the Rams held on to secure the win and reclaim the prized taonga.

King Country's seven tries were scored by Cornelius-Peina, Rowlands (two), Malimoce, Satherley, Wind and Patterson. Fullback Patrick Hedley converted five of the tries, finding his kicking range particularly well in the second half.

The Rams will now defend the Bill Osborne Taonga against Thames Valley at Te Kūiti this Saturday.

The reigning Heartland champions, the Swamp Foxes, will be determined to return to the Coromandel with both the taonga and the Centurions Cup, which is contested annually between the two sides.

Kick-off is at 1pm.

In other results, the Big Horns went down 34–28 to Northern Whanganui, while the Trailblazers women's team lost 39–27 to the Thames Valley Vixens.