Winning start for Development

The Manawatu Development XV got their 2017 campaign off to a winning start 36-12 over Horowhenua-kapiti in Levin on Saturday.

Horowhenua-kapiti came into the match, a pre-season fixture for their Heartland campaign, with plenty of physicality which caught Manawatu off guard early.

But the side, which was featured a host of players who have been training with the Turbos, lifted after a slow first 20 minutes.

Contracted Turbos wing/midfielder Nathan Tudreu backed up from coming off the bench for the Turbos in the preseason match against Hawke’s Bay on Friday night to play for the Development XV on Saturday as he looked to build match fitness. He bagged a brace of tries, as did utility Patrick Tafili-reid, who was also with the Turbos on Friday night.

Wings Ollie Brosnahan and Ben Werthmuller picked up the other tries as the backs feasted on the strong platform

set by the forwards.

Werthmuller had a strong game on the right wing. Regular halfback Tom Stewart was called on to cover first fiveeighth and did a good job in the less familiar position. Atu Henare was strong in the No 9 jersey.

In the pack, No 8 Kirk Tufuga, blindside flanker Jackson Iose and hooker Max Fryatt stood out.

But a blow to the team came when prop Josh Greer, who is in the squad covering for Sam Tufuga while he trains with the Turbos, left with an ankle injury. X-rays cleared Greer of a break, but they won’t know the extent of the ligament damage until the swelling goes down.

Coach Ben James said was pleased with the way the team chipped away.

‘‘I was very pleased with the way we held them out and dug our heels in. Defensively we were OK, but there is a lot of room for improvement around the breakdown and first-up tackles,’’ he said.

The Manawatu Development XV face Wairarapa Bush in Masterton on Friday night in their next match.

Meanwhile, the Manawatu Under 19s were dealt a humbling 59-14 loss by Bay of Plenty in Taupo on Saturday. Coach Shane Ratima said it was a massive wake-up call for the side.

‘‘They were big and aggressive and our mindset was not right,’’ he said. ‘‘It compounded from the kick off from missing first-up tackles. They must have scored four tries from kick off where there was one missed tackle and they ran through the whole team.’’

They were improved in the second half where they bagged two tries in a 12-minute period where Bay of Plenty were shown four yellow cards as Manawatu set up camp on the tryline.

Ratima said they would focus on their mental approach heading into their first Hurricanes region under-19s competition match against Hawke’s Bay in Napier on Saturday.