Just a romp for emerging side

Three Horowhenua-Kapiti B tacklers could not keep Wanganui Development lock Simon Hillis from scoring this try during the first half of their win at Cooks Gardens on Saturday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY.

While the headline team had an inauspicious start to their Pink Batts Heartland Championship campaign, the Wanganui Development team at least gave supporters who came early to Cooks Gardens a spectacle, hammering Horowhenua-Kapiti B 50-18.

But even here there were headaches for the Heartland squad, literally, as flanker Bradley Graham was knocked cold in the opening exchanges of the second half after a head clash with a teammate and was taken off on a stretcher.

It made for a busy early afternoon for the stretcher crew as Horowhenua-Kapiti prop Ken McCauley had been carried off after only two minutes of the game with a suspected compound fracture of the leg.

A stand-down week for Graham adds to problems in the Heartland loose forward department after both Jason Hughes and Andrew Evans limped off the park in the main game.

The Development team, coached by Shane Ratima with Cornel Mason as assistant, still made light work of the visitors in the first half as they ran in five tries several from powerful runs.

Key strike men in the raids were the Pirates combination of first-five Josaia Navitio and big No8 Sanele Ah Chookoon, who both scored doubles.

After the long injury break for McCauley, Navitio opened Wanganui's scoring in the sixth minute as he dragged two tacklers over the line, and four minutes later sliced through a gap to find Chookoon with a pop pass for his first try.

Lock Simon Hillis and Heartland squad member Soonalote Tauailoto smashed their way over in the opening quarter, then flanker Faalafi Taito showed a good turn of pace to get on the outside of opposing fullback Jacob Smith and score with five minutes left.

Horowhenua Kapiti's lock Robbie Tawharu got a consolation try back right on halftime.

Turning into the breeze in the second half and despite the loss of Graham, Wanganui continued their dominance with Navitio scoring from close range and Chookoon adding his double after 50 minutes following good lead-up work from fullback Grayson Tihema and reserve winger Jaye Flaws.

Horowhenua Kapiti contested more strongly as Wanganui worked their bench, adding a try to No8 Scott Cameron, before Wanganui reserve Rhys Wylie rounded out the scoring.

RDO Cup, Round 1 Wanganui Development 50 (Josaia Navitio 2, Sanele Ah Chookoon 2, Simon Hillis, Soonalote Tauailoto, Faalafi Taito, Rhys Wylie tries, Grayson Tihema 5 con) bt Horowhenua-Kapiti B 18 (Scott Cameron, Robbie Tawharu tries, Sam Williams 2 pen, con). HT: 31-11.