Heartland XV run out of time

Wanganui's Te Rangatira Waitokia hurt his knee in the New Zealand Heartland XV's loss to Nadroga in their third tour game on Friday night. PHOTO/ Merrilyn George.

The New Zealand Heartland XV just missed completing an unbeaten tour going down to Fijian champions Nadroga 26-22 on Friday night.

All four Wanganui representatives - Viki Tofa, Lindsay Horrocks, Peter Rowe and Te Rangatira Waitokia - started the match, the sides third game in six days.

New Zealand made the early running and held a 10-0 lead at Lawaqa Park before the home side piled on 26 points in a flat patch for the visitors.

"We let them off the hook and then we missed a couple of shots at goal," coach Barry Matthews said.

"They were coming up in defence quite hard and we just dropped too much ball to be honest."

A late rally had the New Zealand side in with a chance of snatching a late win but the clock ran out on them.

"We probably should've and could've won," Matthews said.

"They were absolutely on their knees at the end of the game and if it had gone on a few more minutes I think we would've won.

"For most of the game we defended really well but against those type of sides you need to do it for 80 minutes."

Of the Wanganui quartet, Matthews said Tofa was strong in defence along with Rowe.

"Peter was just his usual self, made tackle after tackle."

Waitokia hurt his knee early on which hampered his movement.

Matthews said he tour would go down as an overall success with two wins against Nadi and NZ Marist.

"We played three in six days. Two wins out of three and we got close in the last games. It's about the performance as much as winning and losing," he said.

"They really did New Zealand proud of the field as much as on it."

Nadroga 26
NZ Heartland XV 22 ( Siua Moala, Kieran Coll, Willie Paia'aua tries, James Lash 2 con, pen)