Slump in second spell costs development side

BY PETER LAMPP

A baffling second-half slump saw the Manawatu Development XV fall 41-25 to Hawke's Bay Development at FMG Stadium on Saturday.

Manawatu led 22-11 just before halftime after having been up 17-3 inside a half hour. The forwards had delivered good ball from Bertus Mulder, Sam Stevens and Bryn Templeman and the backs prospered, wing Jason Temara scoring two tries and Lewis Marshall the class act with his breaks from fullback.

Turbos loose forward Mitchell Crosswell was out with a cut head.

Hawke's Bay, coached by former Manawatu halfback Richard Jarman, took the ball up the middle in the second half and Manawatu went soft on defence, while their first-five, Tipene Cottrell, goal-kicked the lights out.

Manawatu were superior in the backs but infringed at the breakdown and Mulder was binned.

Duncan Walker spilled a lineout ball from which Hawke's Bay scored and lock TePasu Thomas went on his own for a try and spilled the ball over the line.

Hawke's Bay Development XV 41 (Eugene Gerard, Hugh Reed, Tane Edmonds, Levi Armstrong, tries; Tipene Cottrell 5 pen, 3 con) Manawatu Development XV 25 (Jason Temara 2, Lewis Marshall 2, tries; Brad Truesdale con, pen) HT 16-22.With only 19 players on the bus to Park Island, Napier, the Manawatu women's team were beaten, 39-10 by Hawke's Bay for the Attenborough-McBeth Challenge Cup on Saturday.

Without many experienced players, injured in the win over Wellington, in the first half it was as if Manawatu were still on the bus.

Hawke's Bay scored two tries in the opening six minutes and had 20 points up in even time before leading 29-5 at halftime.

Feilding High School hooker Kristina Illston was outstanding and she scored both of Manawatu's tries, one in each half.

Others to shine were prop Anne-Marie Brabender and wing Aleasha Brider.

Feilding High School's 1st XV finished third in the national schools' co-ed knockout competition by beating St Andrew's College (Christchurch), 33-7, yesterday.

On Friday, Feilding had been toppled in the semifinals 17-15 by Manurewa High School and were smarting from that loss yesterday.

Manurewa scored the winning try in the last seconds of the game.

Feilding blitzed St Andrew's in the opening 15 minutes with three tries before leading 26-0 at halftime.

Standout players were lock Andrew Howie, prop Regan Hunt, wing Saul Chase and flanker Daniel Meehan.

Feilding finished the season with just three losses.

Scorers: 3rd-4th playoff - Feilding HS 33 (Andrew Howie 2, Eddie Cranstone, James Dunlop, Jamie Perigo, tries; Zane Crook 4 con) St Andrew's College 7 (try, con) HT 26-0.

Semifinal: Manurewa HS 17 Feilding HS 15 (Saul Chase, Josiah Smith, tries; Zane Crook pen, con) HT 7-8.Manawatu's under-18 team, minus the Feilding High School 1st XV players, were beaten 33-10 by Hawke's Bay at Waipukurau on Saturday.

In the pre-season match, Hawke's Bay led 26-0 at halftime but Manawatu won the second spell 10-7 with tries to Dean White and Brett Joyes.

The best player was Varsity centre and captain, Byson Christiansen.

Manawatu start their Hurricanes competition next Saturday against Wellington at Porirua.

At Arena Manawatu on Saturday, the Manawatu under-12s drew 15-all with Wellington zone and the Manawatu under-13s beat Wellington zone 27-17.

The severely injury-hit Manawatu under-16s lost 27-7 to Hawke's Bay at Waipukurau yesterday.

Manawatu held Hawke's Bay to 7-all at halftime after a try to Andrew McDougall and a conversion by James Durston.

Manawatu were missing school players away at tournaments or others back after a heavy week.

Two players were hospitalised, McDougall with a broken shin from which a Hawke's Bay player was ordered off for a no-arms tackle, and Braydon Haimona who was knocked out.

Manawatu should be stronger next week when they play Taranaki.

- © Fairfax NZ News