Rugby: Wanganui battle to victory

Wanganui 28
Horowhenua-Kapiti 10

It's very early days in this year's Meads Cup rugby competition, but the facts of life were bought home for holder Wanganui today when they struggled very badly to beat a Horowhenua-Kapiti side that had been easily beaten in the first round of the competition by Poverty Bay.

Wanganui eventually won 28-10, but the score was hugely flattering to a home side which lacked enthusiasm, was clearly not mentally on its game and made far too many errors.

Horowhenua couldn't score a try against Poverty Bay, but led 10-8 at halftime today after grabbing two runaway tries courtesy of lamentable Wanganui errors.

It could have been more because the Horowhenua forwards had easily the better of proceedings, except in the lineout where 97-game veteran Keith Milligan couldn't get the ball straight.

Wanganui started much better in the second half with a penalty by Mark Davis and a brilliant try by Davis again off a 70m break by Wanganui's exciting new "state of origin" player Saul Chase.

That gave the home side an 18-10 buffer, and Davis added to that with a 20-minute penalty. But only the pace of local wing Simon Dibben stopped another individualistic try for Horowhenua when replacement wing Mike Tambour intercepted - that would have bought it to within a point with 11 minutes left.

The score was boosted with a Chase try in the final minute after fine work by himself and replacement wing Nic Harding - but really good moments from Wanganui were few and far between.

A recurrence of an ankle injury by Manawatu loan prop Gene Ropoama and the return of powerful Fijian No 8 Nemani Negusa on Monday further weakens the Wanganui pack for next Saturday's big match with Poverty Bay.

Best of the home side were Nagusa and loose forward/lock Fraser Hammond, while lock Jon Smyth's workrate was back to its best.

Aucklander Rhema Sagote was strong in midfield and replacement halfback Matthew Koubaridis and Chase added sting later on - but it was an average performance by Wanganui.

Horowhenua's scrum was clearly superior, with loosehead Aaron Kearney dominant, No 7 and captain Antony Fox excellent and lock Ryan Shelford very strong.

But Horowhenua's problem was in creating tries, as it was last week. Their tries came from Wanganui mistakes expertly taken by loan centre Perry Hayman.

Wanganui 28 (Tremaine Gilbert, Saul Chase, Mark Davis tries; Davis 3 pens, 2 cons) Horowhenua-Kapiti 10 (Perry Hayman 2 tries). HT: 8-10.