Town prop Kamipeli Latu takes the ball up in his team's 10-7 win over Country on a cold Friday night at Cooks Gardens.
Town have broken the drought of five years as they won the representative trial game with Country 10-7 at a chilly Cooks Gardens in Whanganui on Friday night.
Playing under lights in dewy conditions, which saw several players slipping over at times, the match was a study in contrasts.
Town had more of the pace and effective use of the width of the park, but would struggle to maintain control of the ball when the gaps opened up, whereas Country were stronger at the break down and earned more turnovers, then would grind their way up off the ruck.
There were exceptions to both those rules, as in a trial match the idea is to keep the ball moving, and it was only towards the end of the fourth quarter that cold hands began to lose control with regularity, as play stagnated just inside Country's half with a series of back and fourth scrums.
As well as the chopping and changing of players, referees Robbie Clark and Ben Lourie alternated the officiating between the four quarters, and commented after the match that despite the stop-start nature, no one got that annoyed with their decisions – being either too focused on impressing the Steelform Wanganui selectors or perhaps too cold to get worked up.
Unlike previous years, Wanganui coach Jason Caskey said there will not be an immediate announcement of an extended squad to begin preparations for the Ranfurly Shield challenge to Taranaki on August 2 and the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship campaign to follow.
The selectors will watch the final five rounds and playoffs of the Tasman Tanning Premier competition before final decisions, which will allow some of the selected triallists who could not play due to injury to stay keen.
In the mean time, a "Gain Line Invitational XV" of 23 players has been chosen to play the Manawatu Under 19's on June 13.
"It was nice and competitive. It worked out well, a good tussle," Caskey said about Friday night.
A couple of alterations were made before the game, such as Town winger Tom Symes moving over to Country, but after that, both squads maintained their lineups with no-one needing to switch sides mid-match to restore parity.
"It took them a long time to realise night conditions [means] slippery ball," said Caskey.
"Night rugby, you've got to be a bit more accurate with the carries."
Although a disjointed affair, there were several players who had their individual moments.
Town No8 Emile Fanene turned in a strong three quarters while big centre Jim Seruwalu was always dangerous, although his team could not often capitalise on the bursts through either his loss of possession or turnovers by the support.
As the only player on show from the Senior competition, halfback Tiari Tokotaua-Mumby did not look out of place and was threatening around the fringes late in the game, while Shandon Scott and Nick Harding each had half a game at fullback and kicked well in general play.
Country's front rowers in Wiremu Cotterell, Gabriel Hakaraia, Keanu Puki-Kaa and Mac James Edmonds all put their hand up with an energetic effort.
Flanker Jamie Hughes was his usual hard working self and the returning Kameli Kuruyabaki looked fit and determined at centre.
After back and forth exchanges in the opening few minutes, Country got a roll on with Hakaraia taking the hit-ups, followed by Hughes, leading to a penalty for a lineout and drive to the chalk.
The ball was freed up and transferred to the left hand corner for flanker Mikaere Penetito to dive across and Mitchell Miller to convert from the sideline after 12 minutes.
Town's best chance to score came not long after when prop Raymond Salu busted his way through, only for the support to lose the ball at the tryline ruck, and then Country counterattacked as Kuruyabaki ran out of his half and made a nice flick pass to winger Shaquille Waara, with Hughes then kicking ahead before Town loose forward Angus Middleton shut them down.
Town lost lock Matt Ashworth to an ankle injury and despite a late raid could not get a reply score before quarter time.
Both teams kept throwing to the back of their lineouts with mixed success on the cold night, while Seruwalu followed up a burst by Tokotaua-Mumby to cut back infield and nearly get to the line.
Town still won the scrum ball and while first-five Desmond Tyrell couldn't quite link with his winger on their blindside dash, he backed himself to bump through a tackle and dive over at the Guyton St corner for 7-5 with six minutes left till halftime.
They would then hit the front deep in the third quarter as Country's Jaye Flaws probed for an opening but the pass went astray, as Seruwalu took off and linked with Josaia Bogileka who in turn sent the long pass to fellow fresh reserve back Junior Ainea to dash over in the far side corner.
Play stagnated a little in the final quarter as Town were still full of running but didn't get enough men to the breakdown, instead setting for the following phases, while Country would get the numbers there to just drive over the top and steal the ball or spoil it.
However, Country still had to play rugby from within their own half and had their own handling issues when trying to spread it and score the matchwinner.
City 10 (Desmond Tyrell, Junior Ainea tries) bt Country 7 (Mikaere Penetito try; Mitchell Miller con). HT: 7-5 Country.