Manawatu¯ Mustangs topple Taranaki
The Manawatu¯ Mustangs have dished out a pre-season hiding to Taranaki, giving the team a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the national championship qualification series.
In their first game of the season, the Mustangs touched down seven times and dominated the first half in Palmerston North on Sunday. The Mustangs were up 28-0 at the break, scoring five tries.
The Taranaki team, expected to be a development lineup, but closer to their senior side, was stronger in the second half, but the Mustangs will take heart from such a big win over one of their zonal qualification rivals.
‘‘It was a good first hit-out of the year. They showed that they can perform together,’’ said Mustangs coach Haze Reweti.
Conditions at Fitzherbert Park were good, allowing the Mustangs to play a fast game and dominate the middle of the field, although Reweti said the team’s intensity slipped in the second half.
He wants them to work on their consistency ahead of Wellington on August 18.
The Mustangs are made up of Whanganui Boxon and Linton Cobras players and a sprinkling of teens entering the rep scene.
Of those, standoff Shadow Wirori got a run, as the Mustangs used 18 players, rather than the usual 17.
‘‘He came on late in the game. He had 30 minutes and did really well. He didn’t look out of place,’’ Reweti said.
Woody Martin was captain on Sunday, but Reweti is yet to appoint a fulltime skipper.
Manawatu¯ Mustangs 38, Taranaki 4.