Rugby: Game of two halves for Wasps and Cavaliers

Wasps no 9, Jono Kitto, scores under the posts. Photo/John Borren

Bay of Plenty Steamers head coach Clayton McMillan had the chance to run the rule over potential Steamers players as the Wasps took on and beat the Cavaliers at Katikati's Moore Park this afternoon.

The Cavaliers side was coached by Tana Umanga and was made up of potential Counties Manukau players.

In a match that could have defined the classic "game of two halves" phrase, Wasps scored 26 unanswered points in the first half, despite losing both starting locks - Keepa Mewett to injury and Tim Bond to the sin bin.

With both coaches making wholesale changes at half time, fortunes were reversed in the second half and the Cavaliers were the team on the charge, scoring 19 points without reply.

McMillan was coy about giving too much away in terms of who impressed, but said the pattern of the game reflected the fact that the Wasps had the more experienced line up on the field in the first half, with the Cavaliers bringing on their more experienced players at half time.

However, he said he felt he was much closer to being able to finalise the Steamers 2015 squad.

The majority of the Wasps team came from the wider Steamers training group consisting of contracted players and those that have been performing well throughout the club season.