Timoci Seruwalu scores the first of his hat trick of tries in the win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin on Saturday.
Timoci Seruwalu scores the first of his hat trick of tries in the win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin on Saturday.
A hat-trick from barnstorming second five Timoci Seruwalu and some solid play from three imported newcomers to the backline were the stories coming out of Steelform Wanganui's 38-17 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in their last preseason match on Saturday.
With Levin's Playford Park avoiding the thunder storms which drenched other major representative games being played just 40 minutes up the road, Wanganui were again able to cut loose with their pace and power out wide, leading 26-5 at the break.
Similar to last week against Saracens, the second half was more even as the home side regrouped while Wanganui experimented with some of their combinations, further orientating fullback/centre Jona Sawailau, winger Bruno Tuivai and reserve halfback Tom Stewart.
Sawailau and Tuivai have come down from the Suburbs club in Auckland and will be staying with the squad as coach Jason Caskey addressed having both local fullbacks Cameron Crowley and Nick Harding on the injury shelf.
"They both played well, Jonah played the first half at fullback and he was very powerful, made line breaks," Caskey said.
"They'll get better with more time spent with the team,"
Tuivai was one of the tryscorers, while Sawailau switched into centre in the second half and Stewart, from Feilding Old Boys, covered scrum half for the second stanza.
Wanganui's other tryscorers were flanker Tremaine Gilbert and hooker Cole Baldwin, who swapped with a slightly unwell Roman Tutauha to take over both the No2 jersey and the captaincy.
Tremaine Gilbert scored a try for the second preseason in a row.
Veteran Fraser Hammond made his comeback to the pack and did a lot of work in his 60 minutes on the park.
Seruwalu's first try was a straight bash over straight from a tryline ruck after the forwards drove from the lineout, while another of his hatrick required a lot more work - combining with winger Samu Kubunavanua to break free 40m out and have the pace to hold off his pursuers to the line.
Tryscorers for the home side were loose forward Aaron Lahmert, outside back Izak Ekstein and lock and captain Ryan Shelford.
Caskey said his squad picked up a few niggles against their neighbours, but no major injuries which would prevent anyone else from being available for the start of the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship campaign against Wairarapa-Bush this Saturday.
That game will also be the first defence of the Bruce Steel Memorial Shield, which was originally going to be on the line in Saturday's match.
However, officials checked the rules and confirmed the Shield is only defended in preseason games if two sides are not drawn to face each other during the Heartland round robin.
Wanganui will face Horowhenua-Kapiti again on October 7 in Levin.
Wanganui 38 (Timoci Seruwalu 3, Cole Baldwin, Tremaine Gilbert, Bruno Tuivai tries; Craig Clare 3 con, Dane Whale con) bt Horowhenua-Kapiti 17 (Aaron Lahmert, Izak Ekstein, Ryan Shelford tries; James Soolefai con). HT: 26-5.
First-five Craig Clare kicked three conversions.
Squad chosen
Steelform Wanganui have settled on their 27-man squad for the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship.
Newcomers to NPC rugby will be flanker Angus Middleton, prop Raymond Salu and Wanganui Collegiate 1st XV star Cody Hemi, although they all have played 2017 preseason games for Wanganui either midseason or in the last fortnight.
The three imports are Aucklanders Bruno Tuivai and Jona Sawailau, along with Manawatu's Tom Stewart.
Forwards: Roman Tutauha (Ruapehu); Cole Baldwin (Border); Hamish Mellow (Border); Viki Tofa (Marist); Gabriel Hakaraia (Ruapehu); Raymond Salu (Pirates); Sam Madams (Marist); Sokonaia Kalou (Border); Fraser Hammond (Ruapehu); Campbell Hart (Ruapehu); Jamie Hughes (Ruapehu); Angus Middleton (Border); Bryn Hudson (Ngamatapouri); Tremaine Gilbert (Taihape).
Backs: Lindsay Horrocks (Border); Tom Stewart (Feilding OB Oroua, Manawatu); Craig Clare (Ruapehu); Dane Whale (Taihape); Timoci Seruwalu (Ngamatapouri); Jona Sawailau (Suburbs, Auckland); Kaveni Dabenaise (Border); Simon Dibben (Marist); Samu Kubunavanua (Ngamatapouri); Bruno Tuivai (Suburbs, Auckland); Cody Hemi (Wanganui Collegiate School); Cameron Crowley (Marist); Nick Harding (Border).
