Wanganui U16 trapped by the Bush

It was a tough start for the Ag Challenge Wanganui Under 16's to their HYRC Series in Palmerston North with a 44-7 loss to Wairarapa-Bush U16 in the opening game yesterday.

Going into the first half wind, Wanganui scored the second try to lead 7-5, but conceeded two scores in the four minutes before halftime to trail 15-7 at the break.

Under the tournament rules, all players must have at least half a game, so changes were made at the break and the bigger Wairarapa-Bush squad got away on Wanganui to rack up another 29 points.

"We had a good start, just a couple of 50-50 passes turned into tryscoring opportunities," said coach Cornell Mason.

The team is being billeted at Feilding Ag school.

Their second match is this morning against Wellington B.

"It doesn't get any easier but there's a chance to play at a higher level, one that these boys might not get in Whanganui," said Mason.

Kickoff is 11.45am.

The team will have a rest day tomorrow and then their final match of the tournament on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former Whanganui High School player Vilimoni Koroi has been named as a winger in the 2016 New Zealand Schools team to play Fiji and Australia next week.

Koroi, now at Feilding Ag, went to the wider squad training camp under coach Jason Holland this month.

NZ Schools play Fiji on October 3 then Australia on October 8.