Seven Summit Electrical Whanganui Under 20’s players have been chosen for the Heartland Hurricanes U20’s at the conclusion of their HYC tournament in Bulls on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Whanganui remained winless for the second year in a row, but it was not without trying as a 32-17 defeat to Poverty Bay on Saturday was followed by a 33-31 loss to Horowhenua-Kapiti on Sunday at the Bulls RFC grounds.

It was the second season in a row Whanganui have lost the derby match by just two points – as they led 24-14 after halftime, only for Horowhenua-Kapiti to go on a scoring burst to take charge at 33-24.

A late converted try gave Whanganui a chance, but they would run out of time.

The win gave Horowhenua-Kapiti runner-up spot behind the dominant Wairarapa Bush, who beat them 49-7 on Saturday and then Poverty Bay 36-20 on Sunday to claim an historic championship three-peat.

Heartland Hurricanes coach Darren Larsen then announced his 27-man squad, which includes Whanganui forwards Mat Hammond, Teina-Lee Phillips, and Angus Wigglesworth, along with backs Mason Henry, Jahstice Metekingi, Tahatika Te Riaki and Jeff Dorset, with Dorset having also played for the team last year.

Wairarapa Bush naturally had the strongest representation with 11 players, with five from Horowhenua-Kapiti and four from Poverty Bay.

After their ‘preseason’ match with the McFall Fuel Whanganui Barbarians, the Heartland Hurricanes will enter the Central Regions tournament against the Under 19 squads of Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.

This will be followed by the Glen Osborne Cup match with the Chiefs Heartland Under 20’s on September 13th.

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It was not exactly tropical weather for the Whanganui Pasifika side to have a crack in Lower Hutt on Saturday in their 49-5 defeat to the Wellington Fijians.

Played as the curtain-raiser to Steelform Whanganui vs Centurions RFC, in very wet and windy conditions at the Hutt Recreation Ground, both sides were guilty of struggling to hold into the ball.

Whanganui had a player sinbinned for a professional foul on an attacking scrum, and impressive Fijians fullback George Vatuwaliwali scored the first of his two tries, beating tacklers to the corner after snatching up a shallow kick clearance into the wind.

The hosts extended their lead to 15-0 at halftime, and their strong bench came on to continue the carries or pressure on Whanganui’s attempts to clear the ball, working out to a 29-0 advantage.

Whanganui finally hit back after a couple of penalties to work into position for reserve forward Rusiate Baledreketi to drive in and score, but it proved only a short reprieve.

The Fijians, known colloquially as the ‘Flyers’, were lining up on the fringes with overlaps to dive in and get four more tries, including right on fulltime, with difficult goal-kicking conditions preventing the half century.

The visitors had to make a few changes to the team who played their opening match, and so hopefully will be better reinforced for their remaining home fixtures against the Pasifika teams of Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Results, August 9th-10th 

McFall Fuel Whanganui Barbarians bt Wairarapa Bush Barbarians 31-19.

Northern Sub-Union lost to Central Hawkes Bay 22-17.

Summit Electrial Whanganui U20’s lost to Poverty Bay U20’s 32-17 and Horowhenua Kapiti U20’s 33-31.

Whanganui Pasifika lost to Wellington Fijians 49-5.
 

By Jared Smith