Development XV fall in final match
The Manawatu Development XV lost the territory battle and eventually the match 32-29 against the Wellington Samoans in Palmerston North on Saturday.
The Manawatu side had a 19-15 lead at the break after playing with the wind, but their opponents made the better of the wind and made fewer mistakes.
The Wellington Samoans’ trotted out a handy side, including the likes of former Wellington first five-eighth Fa’atonu Fili.
But the Manawatu Development XV had its fair share of talented options, including Turbos Valentino Mapapalangi and Hunter Prescott.
Mapapalangi looked impressive with strong carries, but threw a couple of risky offloads which did not always work.
Prescott was solid while on the field without being spectacular. But he did show good strength to rumble over in the corner for a try.
Manawatu were ravaged by injuries which forced multiple backline adjustments.
Neal Tudreu proved to be the ultimate utility. The former flanker, who converted to hooker this season, was named on the bench as a prop, but came on the field as a wing when injuries hit.
Considering he was meant to be in the front row, he did a surprisingly good job of marking one of the Wellington Samoan’s best attacking players, wing Fereti Soloa.
Manawatu had the better scrum and looked to be taking control when they pushed out to a 24-15 lead early in the second half.
But sloppy tackling and poor handling let the Wellington Samoans back into the game.
Late in the match, Wellington Samoa led 32-24, but a try in the final minute to Mapapalangi narrowed the score.
After a strong pre-season, Manawatu didn’t win a game in the Hurricanes development competition.
But coach Fusi Feaunati said it had been a positive season.
‘‘I am really happy with the attitude of the men,’’ he said. ‘‘We did not get the win and it messes you up a bit physiologically when you don’t get the win, but at the end of the day these guys are proud to pull on the Manawatu jersey and have shown commitment to the programme.
‘‘The majority of the them are not ready for NPC but they are getting a taste of what it takes to get to those standards.’’