Wanganui pay dearly for 10 minute lapse

Wanganui Rugby

A ten minute lapse before half time at a blustery Yarrow Stadium cost Wanganui Collegiate First XV dearly as they were beaten 29-19 in their final game of the season against rivals New Plymouth Boys' High School.

Played as the curtain raiser to the ITM Cup match between Taranaki and Hawke's Bay, Collegiate were holding their own against the bigger forward pack of the home team, with three Jack Lupton penalties lifting them to a 9-5 advantage with the wind after 30 minutes.

However, the scoreline had blown out to a 22-9 advantage to NPBHS by halftime.

"It was a bit of a black patch conceded three tries in a 10 minute period," said Collegiate coach Guy Lennox.

The heavy rain arrived for the second half as Collegiate went into the wind both sides trying to play some expansive rugby but struggling as the weather got worse.

Lennox was proud his team showed some fight back, scoring two tries from Ollie Paine and Nick Cave to narrow the gap.

It wraps up 2013 for the First XV, Lennox pleased overall with the improvement for Collegiate.

However, it will be a fresh look in 2014 as most of this team were 17 and 18-year-old's in their final secondary school season.

"There's more leaving than coming back.

"There's a bit of rebuilding required for next year," said Lennox.