Rugby: Wanganui XV retain shield

The Wanganui Development XV with the RDO Shield after their 48-13 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti Development in the final at Cooks Gardens on Saturday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

The Rugby Development Officers (RDO) Shield was sitting in the Wanganui Development XV dressing room before kickoff and there it would stay other than the fulltime photo-op as the home side disposed of Horowhenua-Kapiti Development 48-13 in the Cooks Gardens curtain raiser on Saturday.

With a rejigged lineup due to injury, Wanganui retained the Shield they had won for the first time last year, taking the heavy breeze in the first half and running in four tries for a 31-5 advantage.

They were able to consolidate despite the head wind in the second 40 minutes, pouncing on Horowhenua Kapiti fumbles to grab three more breakout tries.

Winger Michael Nabuliwaqa opened the account with the first of his two tries, before Heartland wider squad member Tautahi Rawiri dived over near the posts for the start of his double.

First-five Areta Lama would finish off a deep raid started by flanker Sikeli Ulukuta, before Horowhenua Kapiti struck back with a try after fullback Jamie Hynds made a determined run at the line following a series of free kicks.

Annoyed to have conceded any points given they had the breeze, Wanganui replied right before halftime with Rawiri smashing through a gap and feeding Nabuliwaqa for his second.

Rawiri took over the goal kicking from the accurate Grayson Tihema and would also have the tougher prospect of trying to convert into the near gale during the second half.

Horowhenua Kapiti initially made good use of the wind at the turnaround with first-five Aaron Taiapa landing an early penalty, while Wanganui had to keep ball in hand and made a few risky passes.

Some good defence and ball recovery from prop Vaan Rauhina and Tremaine Gilbert made sure the home side stayed out of their danger zone, then Lama scooped up a bad Horowhenua Kapiti fumble and fed halfback Kane Tamou, who showed his deceptive pace to outstrip the chasers in a 70m dash to the line.

Horowhenua Kapiti reserve forward Seaton Kuru pulled it back to 36-13 with a barge over try.

Tempers flared with Wanganui back on attack as a brief pull-apart fight saw both teams get a warning from the official, but visiting prop Kenneth Macaulay didn't get the message as on the very next phase he caught Ulukuta high, receiving a yellow card after reserve loose forward Kieran Hussey had dived low following a series of rucks at the line.

Rawiri would cut loose to score Wanganui's last try, running under the posts to give himself the opportunity to convert into the wind.

The RDO Shield final win wraps up another good campaign for the Wanganui seconds, who beat Wellington Maori Colts 79-19 at Cooks Gardens, beat Horowhenua Kapiti Development 24-10 in Otaki, and draw with Wairarapa Bush B 23-23 in Masterton to make the playoff. It was also two titles in a row for coach Shane Ratima.

In other results, the Wanganui Under 16's had a 24-10 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti at Spriggens Park.

Wanganui Development 48 (M Nabuliwaqa 2, T Rawiri 2, A Lama, K Tamou, K Hussey tries; G Tihema pen, 3 con, Rawiri 2 con) beat Horowhenua-Kapiti Development 13 (J Hynds, S Kuru tries; A Taiapa pen). HT: 31-5.