Development XV hooker Keanu Puki-Kaa takes a hard tackle in his debut game against Hawke's Bay Under 19 on Saturday. Photo by Merrilyn George.
Development XV hooker Keanu Puki-Kaa takes a hard tackle in his debut game against Hawke's Bay Under 19 on Saturday. Photo by Merrilyn George.
The Wanganui Toyota Development XV started off the double for the senior representative teams playing in Napier as they easily disposed of Hawke's Bay Under 19's 64-12 at the Tremaine Field on Saturday.
New coach Denis Edwards had all of the original 19-strong squad named during the week, being joinedby four players dropping back from Jason Caskey's Steelform Wanganui squad - three backs and a forward.
Starting the match in pouring rain, the Development XV had too much strength up front for the teenagers, with the scoreline eclipsing the narrow 19-12 win at Spriggens Park last year.
"It was a very physical team," said Edwards.
"Hawke's Bay didn't match us in physicality, but you would expect that with kids."
Winger Karl Pascoe was among the players who scored multiple tries, while prop Marek Willis had a strong match and lock Jackson Campbell was good in the lineout and showed off his mobility around the field.
No8 Taione Ratu, one of two players from June's Ranfurly Shield challenge now in the Development side, was domineering in the first half before the pace of the match caught up to him later on - a facet of his conditioning which Edwards is now aware and will work with to "get the most of him" going forward.
The Development XV will have their last preseason match against the Marton Samoan team in Marton on Saturday, before the start of the RDO Shield campaign the following week.
