Defence the foundation

TūRANGA PROUD: Members of the Tūranga Mana Wāhine and Tūranga Tāne teams who made the long trip to Te Kuiti on Saturday to face King Country sides. Tāne won 32-28 while Mana Wāhine were beaten 39-26.Picture supplied

A FRIDAY training session with Bay of Plenty Steamers assistant coach Richard Watt looks to have proved invaluable for Tūranga Tāne.

The squad beat King Country Development squad 32-28 in Te Kuiti on Saturday after training under Watt the night before at Blake Park in Mt Maunganui.

Openside flanker Seth Lundon picked up a try double but it was defence that was the foundation to their success.

“Our defence in the last 10 minutes was outstanding and it ultimately won us the game,” Tūranga head coach Doug Jones said.

“It was a great game by our team and a high standard was set in really tough conditions.

“We were up by 11 points with 15 minutes to go and King Country Development threw everything they had at us to win on their 100-year centenary celebrations (of King Country Rugby Football Union),” Jones said.

“They even used their 26 players to our 21.”

But it was a team effort and everyone pitched in to bring it home.

As well as Lundon's two tries, Turanga picked up points through tries to hooker and captain Ngahiwi Manuel and blindside flanker Shyann Wyllie, along with 12 from the boot of Bryan Howard.

“Bryan was outstanding at fullback and halfback,” Jones said.

Turanga's next game is at home to Tūranga Pasifika.