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Home / Whanganui Chronicle / Sport

Local stars go international

By Jared Smith
Whanganui Chronicle·
4 Jun, 2017 11:24 AM3 mins to read

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Stephen Perofeta scores the winning try for the Blues over the Reds in Apia on Friday evening. Photo/Getty Images

Stephen Perofeta scores the winning try for the Blues over the Reds in Apia on Friday evening. Photo/Getty Images

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Whanganui's rugby stars have been all over the map on a busy Queens Birthday weekend and taking their chance to shine in the limelight.

On Friday evening in Apia, Samoa, former Collegiate 1st XV and Steelform Wanganui first-five Stephen Perofeta made his Super Rugby debut off the bench for the Blues against the Reds - coming into the match after 50 minutes to replace Piers Francis.

In moments reminiscent of his 2015 Mitre 10 Heartland Championship debut, the gifted 20-year-old would overcome a rough start from a fumble and then a kick charge down which put the Reds on attack and eventually led to a try.

Perofeta stepped up his game and would score the Blues match-winning try with six minutes to go as he snatched up the ball when a long break was stopped right on the line, before adding his second conversion kick for the 34-29 victory.

Eyes then turned to Whangarei on Saturday evening as Taihape expat Jack Stratton and Ruapehu's Peter Rowe lined up for the NZ Provincial Barbarians to face the British & Irish Lions, with their unheralded team putting in an outstanding effort in the 13-7 loss.

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Starting halfback, Stratton did well for his over 50 minutes on the field - distributing between forwards and backs and getting to the breakdown swiftly, even sliding on his knees along the Toll Stadium turf to do so.

Almost like clockwork, vice captain Rowe came on in the 60th minute, his head wrapped in tape, and true to predictions assumed the on-field leadership role - giving encouragement to the forwards and making the final calls on taking penalty line kicks.

While Rowe only got his anticipated face off with the Lions skipper Sam Warburton for around five minutes before the Welshman departed, the Wanganui flanker did his clean out work very well and would stand at halfback on lineouts inside the Lions half to then come in and support the jumper on the drive.

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Jack Stratton delivers a dive pass for the NZ Provincial Barbarians in the first half against the British & Irish Lions at Toll Stadium in Whangarei.
Photo/Getty Images
Jack Stratton delivers a dive pass for the NZ Provincial Barbarians in the first half against the British & Irish Lions at Toll Stadium in Whangarei. Photo/Getty Images

The Barbarians coaching staff and management, which includes Wanganui's Chris Back, have been praised for getting a team of part-time professionals from 14 provinces as well-prepared as they were, despite only one full week together before kickoff.

The action continues today at Cooks Gardens as another prodigal son returns home when Wanganui will face the Hurricanes Development XV.

Te Rangatira Waitokia, 2016's Heartland Player of the Year who signed his first professional contract with Manawatu last week, will be on the wing for the Hurricanes as they face his former Wanganui team, who are getting ready for the big Ranfurly Shield challenge with Canterbury.

Kickoff is 2.30pm.

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