Match Report: Steelform Whanganui v Wgtn Centurions

By Jared Smith

Set piece execution and making sure not to let a teetering opponent off the hook will be the work-on’s for Steelform Whanganui after another narrow preseason loss to a solid Wellington Centurions on Saturday.

For the second week in a row, Whanganui did not score in the second half, the home side at Jerry Collins Stadium grabbing two converted tries to take the lead 19-12, then hanging on with 14-men after a player was sent off late in the piece.

As required, a couple of Centurions had been late callups into the Wellington Lions squad for the weekend, meaning the remainder lacked for some continuity as well and made their fair share of mistakes and infringements in what became a stop-start affair.

Whanganui took control of the game in the second quarter, getting in position for multiple attacking scrums and lineouts.

But in the air, they didn’t quite gel with some lineout overthrows and misses, while on either side of halftime, the ball was spilled right on the final carry when players were charging at the chalk.

Centurions overcame their continuity issues with natural flair – bringing on some strong ranging loose forwards and outside backs, who would have made big Jerry proud with their league-style smash into contact and one-handed offloads.

A league-style mid-air dive right at the far corner flag by double try-scoring winger Ethan Webster-Nonu proved the decisive play for Centurions to regain the lead which they never lost – Whanganui trying to break out of their half in the final 10 minutes, but with key passes coming unstuck.

It was good to see Craig Clare return at fullback, adding a vital playmaking component alongside halfback Lindsay Horrocks and first-five Dane Whale.

Whanganui’s scrum was very solid, able to keep control of the ball at the back as Horrocks look to milk penalties, while winger Joeli Rauca looked solid under the high kicks in the first half and scored a good stepping try.

Also pleasing was the comeback in the final quarter for incumbent captain Campbell Hart, who helped secure Whanganui’s lineout and got around the field at a fair clip, with some nice cover tackles.

Flanker Cade Robinson and locks Josh Lane and PT Hay-Horton did some strong aggressive work on defence and in the ruck, but would rue some of their set lineout plays coming unstuck.

“Definitely a physical hit out. I think we were still stuck on the bus a little bit, a few guys in particular,” said coach Jason Caskey.

“Bit of a tricky one today. We done some good stuff, especially in the first half.

“Our lineout was obviously a big worry. Didn’t get half the ball we should have had to attack off.

“They’re a big part of your set piece plays, the lineouts, and when you’re not winning them, it’s bloody hard to work too much attack going.”

No8 Semi Vodosese scored Whanganui’s second try after a great angled run to the line by second-five Timoci ‘Jim’ Seruwalu.

Yet Vodosese, prop Hadlee Hay-Horton and others had more shots at the tryline, but just couldn’t hang on.

“We went back to club rugby sort of stuff too when we get close – got guys coming in, running real hard lines, putting a lot of pressure on the catch-and-carry into that space when you’re playing against big boys,” said Caskey.

“But you can’t be too disappointed with 19-12 against a team that’s reasonably strong. Just got to take our opportunities better when they’re available.”

Getting Hart back will be a massive part of that equation.

“He’ll get a bit of confidence out of that [run]. Just get that initial bit of game time, you get through it, and for the boys it’s a big confidence boost for them.”

Centurions wanted to play at pace and through the middle, until Lane held them up by himself on one drive, so they shifted wide instead where second-five Reon Paul broke through the line.

Wellington got a penalty to quick tap, and Webster-Nonu dashed off to the far corner to score.

Working forward off the penalty whistle as they contested strongly in the pack, while Horrocks used Seruwalu as the carrier to get out of their danger zone, Whanganui swiftly turned the territory around.

They matched Wellington’s effort by getting a quick tap opportunity, with Rauca taking a long pass and jinking through the outside backs to equalise 5-5.

After the loose forward trio of Kieran Hussey, Vodosese and Robinson did some solid recovery and carry in the midfield, Clare opted to run, beating tacklers.

It lead to Seruwalu dragging defenders on the angle towards the line, with Vodosese next there to score under the heap, Whale slotting a good conversion to give the visitors the lead by halftime.

But Whale’s opposite Callum Harkin would get it back after Centurions absorbed early pressure in the second stanza, stepping through Whale and dashing off under the posts, with fullback Sam Reid adding the extras to lock the scores again.

Then the injection of Brett Manaia, Ropati Sooalo and Penieli Poasa off the bench proved decisive, with their offloads opening Whanganui up, eventually they spread to the corner where Webster-Nonu stayed upright from Clare’s dive tackle to leap full extension and plant the ball inside the corner flag from above the sideline.

Harking took over the kicking and slotted the conversion from the sideline.

Centurions had to dig deep when reserve halfback Kyle Preston was red-carded for foul play.

Whanganui had a late chance to snatch the game back when reserve halfback Tyler Rogers-Holden broke the line and flicked the offload to reserve winger Peceli Malanicagi to charge over halfway.

However, he was pulled down just inside the 22m to snuff out the visitor’s last chance.

Wellington Centurions 19 (E Webster-Nonu 2, C Harkin tries; S Reid con, Harkin con) bt Whanganui 12 (J Rauca, S Vodosese tries; D Whale con). HT: 12-5 Whanganui.