One more win for the finals

They left Levin soaked and battered but victorious as Whanganui Boxon are now one game away from confirming their spot in the Manawatu premier league playoffs.

Saturday's 18-14 win over the Levin Wolves, formerly the Knights, was a hard-fought, tense affair.

Both teams scored three tries, but it was the steady boot of Boxon captain Steelie Koro (three from four), which proved the difference.

Relieved coach Stewart Reweti said they knew they were third equal in the four-team grade coming into the weekend, and Levin had been in good form having beaten Boxon's bogey team the Linton Cobras the previous Saturday.

Among their ranks were members of the well-known Lomax rugby league family, which has produced Kiwi players in John and David.

"They were doing quite well until we came along," Reweti said.

"It was a very good game, a very exciting game.

"We had to work for our points, it went right to the wire."

Boxon took only a two-man bench to Levin, where it rained all match.

They were held up over Levin's tryline three times, with Reweti disputing one referee call that they knocked the ball on.

Leading 10-4 at the break, Boxon had to deal with another home team comeback for their second straight match but unlike in Linton a fortnight ago they held on.

It was the usual suspects who brought in the points as representative fullback/winger Pentuakau Turia-Bennett scored the first try, then barnstorming representative centre Che Barlow added the second from another individual effort.

Koro got the third four-pointer.

Whanganui Boxon will take on Kia Ora in their last round robin game in Palmerston North on Saturday.