Feilding products star for All Blacks
A Feilding High School old boy not only set up the All Blacks’ first try against the British and Irish Lions, but scored it as well.
Halfback Aaron Smith took the impetus with a brave quick tap inside the Lions’ 22 and it was eventually finished off by hooker Codie Taylor, who showed an impressive set of hands to drag in a low pass.
There were four All Blacks on the field who were educated in Manawatu, with Sam Whitelock (Feilding High School) and Aaron Cruden (Palmerston North Boys’ High School) also impressing.
A hamstring injury to Ryan Crotty has opened the door for that number to increase by one if squad member Ngani Laumape (Palmerston North Boys’ High School) can force his way on to the bench for his debut in the second test.
Manawatu has another player in the Premiership netball competition in Dani Gray.
The Levin product, who went to Nga Tawa Diocesan School and played representative netball for Manawatu, has played two games for the Southern Steel.
The tall defender debuted against the Mainland Tactix two weeks ago and played against the Central Pulse last week. Gray has been living in Dunedin since she finished school.
Manawatu rugby-holics have a busy week ahead of them.
It all starts with the Hurricanes taking on the British and Irish Lions in Wellington on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the New Zealand Army take on the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Central Energy Trust Arena at 2.45pm. There is a rare evening senior A rugby match on Thursday, with Feilding taking on Freyberg. And on Friday night there is the charity match between the Manawatu teachers rugby team, Mana in Education, and the Central District police.
Saturday tosses up the usual platter of club rugby before the week reaches its climax with the All Blacks’ second test against the Lions in Wellington.