The Wanganui Under 18's got their representative season off to a winning start by holding on 22-18 against a determined Thames Valley side at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Coach Jerome McCrea will set himself the task of improving the side's conditioning and especially the set piece, as Wanganui gave awaya couple of tighthead scrums at crucial stages of the second half when the visitors were coming back at them.
Playing with the first half wind, Thames Valley would have scored early if not for an excellent cover tackle by Wanganui winger Luke Foster right at the corner flag.
The visitors lost a player with a shoulder injury, while Wanganui would score two tries - winger Duan Marino showing great strength to bump off two defenders and dive over out wide, then speedy fullback Adam Boult hit the line at pace and wrong-footed the last defender to score.
Thames Valley rallied and attacked the tiring home team just before the break, losing the ball over the line, but getting a penalty to make it 10-3 at halftime.
Wanganui reserve Opiteni Dryden went through a gap after the break but was stopped just short with Wanganui losing possession, but No8 Fenau Nimatasau made the first of several big charges, and from the tryline ruck the ball was spread to Foster to score in the corner.
It appeared Wanganui had the match in hand, but Thames Valley worked forward off a big penalty count, and from a scrum near the line they put the ball through the hands to narrow the gap to 15-8.
The visitors stayed on attack and were only just held.
From a midfield penalty tap, Wanganui flanker Angus Taylor made a good run and the forwards all followed up, then the ball was spread out to Boult who ran outside his man and jogged back towards the posts.
Finally getting a closer conversion chance, first-five Mitchell Millar added the extras and Wanganui had breathing space at 22-8.
But Thames Valley would dominant possession and territory for the final 15 minutes, and after a two players were dragged back off the tryline they finally managed to force the five-pointer.
Deep in injury time with Wanganui out on their feet, Thames Valley kept attacking and scored in the far corner, but again did not have any chance of converting into the breeze.
