Under 20's make good start

Taihape's Hamish Bennett scores one of his two tries in the big win over Horowhenua Kapiti on Saturday.

The Wanganui Under 20's got off to a solid start in the Hurricanes regional tournament with a 43-5 dismissal of Horowhenua Kapiti in the opening match in Palmerston North on Saturday.

Having beaten the same team the week before in a warmup game, this time Wanganui were reinforced by several players from the Metro Colts side and dominated the match through the forwards on the IRANZ academy grounds.

"We had a bit of depth. We certainly switched it around in the second half," said coach Denis Edwards.

"Very, very wet over there.

"The boys were able to play through the conditions well. Very strong forward pack we've got."

Hooker and captain Gabriel Hakaraia scored two tries, as did athletic No8 Hamish Bennett.

Dominic Broadhead, Corbin Warren and Isaiah Hooper scored the other tries, with Hererangi Meihana adding four conversions.

Edwards singled out Warren and Hakaraia for being the best of the forwards, while Jesse Temp was solid in the backs and Meihana's first-second five combination with Ethan Robinson is looking promising.

The coach is hoping a few of his players will get a good look from the New Zealand Heartland Under 19 selectors in the next couple of weeks.

Wanganui play Poverty Bay this coming weekend, and then depending on other results, are likely to face Waiarapa Bush in the final.