Development can beat Wellington on a good day

Talented fullback Tupu Tavae scored two tries in Wanganui Development's big win over the Wellington Centurions in the curtain raiser game on Saturday.

The return of some key players and reinforcement from the Heartland team had the Wanganui Toyota Development XV back on track as they pulled away from the Wellington Centurions to win 50-22 in the RDO Shield game at Cooks Gardens on Saturday.

After taking a makeshift team to Masterton for the loss to Wairarapa-Bush Development, coach Ross Williams had access to a full side, which bore fruit as returning second-five Jaye Flaws punched through a gap to set up a chance for hooker Jack Yarrall to beat three tacklers down the sideline and score the opening try following the Centurions early penalty.

However, Wellington were a well-drilled outfit in the forwards and Wanganui initially did not show patience on attack, throwing risky passes.

Only some great cover defence by winger Josaia Bogileka and fullback Tupu Tavae kept Centurion winger Matt Te Terte out at the corner flag, but Wellington picked up a penalty and hooker captain Stu Simonsen went off the tryline ruck to score.

Wanganui lost halfback Rory Gudsell with a serious shoulder injury before halftime.
They still hit back after the break as Tavae began to sweep into the line with intent, stepping through tacklers after a scrum and getting his pass to flanker captain Kieran Hussey, with Flaws taking the ball on to force his way over.

Tavae then committed three defenders in the tackle and fed winger Simeli Koniferedi, who in turn attracted the last defenders and put first-five Te Tua Kemp over for a 19-10 turnaround.

But the Centurions regrouped after the home team fumbled possession and attacked the line, with Bogileka hounding them until getting offside one too many times for referee Sam McKnight's liking, receiving a yellow card.

Hussey and prop Gabriel Hakaraia somehow managed to stop giant No8 Saki Vaioleti from getting the ball down, but from the scrum first-five Dale Sabbagh split the Wanganui midfielders to narrow the gap to 19-17.

Making up for the miss, Flaws made a good run and Tavae again swept into the gap to score, which finally opened the floodgates.

Centre Kaveni Dabenaise busted the midfield and ran to the posts, then Hussey slipped a tackle deep in his territory and saw off diving chasers on the long run to the line, where he popped the ball up to reserve forward Isaac Greer to cross.

Tavae backed up a Koniferedi dash and although hit high at the corner flag, managed to get the ball down for 43-17.

Centurions grabbed a consolation try when Sabbagh scored his second in the corner, but Wanganui had the final say when flanker Fiatau Faalili slipped through to place the ball under the posts with time up.

"Having Renato [Tikoisolomone] and Jaye back added a fair bit of direction," said Williams.

"Dry track, plenty of exciting outside backs. When we're like that, we're an exciting team to watch."

He praised Tavae and reserve forward Lake Ah Chong for strong games, while being pleased the team weathered the early pressure and by the end were putting their phases together.

Wanganui Development 50 (Tupu Tavae 2, Jack Yarrall, Jaye Flaws, Te Tua Kemp, Kaveni Dabenaise, Isaac Greer, Fiatau Faalili tries; Kemp 4 con, Simeli Koniferedi con) bt Wellington Centurions 22 (Dale Sabbagh 2, Stu Simonsen tries; Sabbagh pen, 2 con). HT: 10-5 Centurions.