Short-handed Heartland XV in romp

The New Zealand Heartland XV will not be lulled into a false sense of security after their first international game with a Cook Islands XV was a 64-6 rout in Rarotonga.

Played late Wednesday afternoon, the Heartland team scored nine tries, getting the ball out wide so the back three of fullback Mike Tambour (Horowhenua-Kapiti) and Wairarapa Bush wingers Nathan Hunt and Sam Monoghan scored two tries each.

Buller first-five James Lash was on song with eight conversions and a penalty from his 10 attempts.

Wanganui flanker Peter Rowe captained the team, while provincial team mates Cole Baldwin and Lasa Ulukuta both started on the bench.

Conditions were hot and muggy after a heavy tropical shower just before kickoff.

The Heartland XV also had to play around 50 minutes with 14 men after lock Andrew Smith (Mid Canterbury) was sent off for allegedly attacking a player's head.

Team manager Chris Back, of Wanganui, said they were waiting on the referee's report for the judiciary before naming the team for Friday's second tour game, to make sure Smith is available. Their view is Smith's contact at the ruck was only slight and accidental.

"He only just grazed the player's head gear as he was going for the ball, cleanly," Back said.

That aside, coach Kurt McQuilkin was pleased the team executed in the wider channels.

"We got it through the hands and played with width, moved those big Cook Island forwards around."

Tuesday's opposition was called a "Residents XV", while the team they play on Friday, tomorrow NZ time, will be a "Selection XV".

"There's going to be a few more boys in. Whether they're from New Zealand or Aussie, I don't know," said McQuilkin.

"We'll just do what we did and concentrate on ourselves. We want to go through undefeated."

Back said a big league tournament is being held at the weekend, which may also have split the loyalties of the local players.

They are expecting a bigger crowd for the second match after 300 watched the first game