Development XV notch up big win
Bunnythorpe would have been foreign soil for most of the Manawatu Development XV, but it didn’t make a difference as they dealt to Horowhenua-kapiti 45-10 on Saturday.
In what is thought to be the first time a representative game has been at Bunnythorpe, Manawatu were too strong for the Heartland union and had the game won when they were up 26-0 at halftime, after a dominant first spell.
Horowhenua-kapiti were a big side, using runners on the fringes and pick and gos, but didn’t have the skills Manawatu did and were caught out wide.
Manawatu had too much firepower in the backline with wing Sam Healy snaring a hat-trick, and he was dangerous along with Jordan Bunce, Jaxon Tagavaitau and Mapa Tuipulotu, with the latter two’s strong running making a difference.
Much like the Manawatu Turbos against Northland on Friday night, the development side’s lineout faltered at times.
Manawatu ran out two teams and had a few Turbos fringe players in hooker Travis Taylor, lock Liam Hallam-eames and first five-eighth Ben Wyness, who all went well.
Flankers Jared Goodson and Doug Juszczyk impressed, first five-eighth Ethan Woodmass caused problems for Horowhenuakapiti and halfback Teejay Oliver was lively.
Old Boys-marist hooker Michael Gardner, who injured his ankle in the first club game of the season, played his second game back from injury and was strong again.
Former College Old Boys backs Willie Paia’aua and Sani Ulukini were on the wings for Horowhenua-kapiti. Manawatu play Hawke’s Bay development in Napier next week. The Manawatu under-19s had their final pre-season game before qualifying matches for the national tournament start and they thrashed the Hurricanes under-19 Barbarians 56-7 at the Sport and Rugby Institute on Sunday. Manawatu were physical, but were dangerous out wide, which is
something they needed to improve on from their 53-0 win over a New Zealand Institute of Sport team during the week.
The game was played in quarters and there were a lot of scrums and lineouts, so the game was a bit stop start.
Manawatu ran in 10 tries, and the score would have been more if not for an off day by their goal kickers, who only got three conversions.
Even though they were on the receiving end, the Hurricanes team had some good patches towards the end of the game and scored their try with about 10 minutes to go.
The best player for Manawatu was lock Rhodes Featherston whose aerial skills were great, securing kickoffs and lineouts and got around the paddock.
Hooker Simon Goss, No 8 Jeremy Dobson and first fiveeighth Tyla Ncneill also played well.
Manawatu’s first qualifying game for the national tournament is against Hawke’s Bay in Napier next Saturday.