It was not the same impressive start as their senior side for the Wanganui Development XV as they were beaten 19-7 by Taranaki Under 19 in the curtain raiser game in Hawera on Saturday.
Having a couple of players unavailable following on from their first training run on Thursday,the Development side were not really in it and scored their try right on fulltime through loose forward Dylan Maloney, while first-five Isireli Baleitavuki added the extras.
"They had a high skill set today and adapted far better to the conditions," coach Ross Williams said of the Taranaki teenagers.
He singled out lock Jack Hodges and winger Jaye Flaws for solid games.
It was still a good hitout for the Development team, who have a preseason of taking on the Under 19 squads of their neighbouring Mitre 10 Cup provinces before looking to defend the RDO Cup.
