McFall Fuel Development XV wingers run wild in Masterton
Try, try, try, catch me if you can
Bye, bye, bye, I’m a wanted man
All these horses need to run
So let ‘em run wild
- Run Wild, Clayton Anderson, 2019
By Jared Smith
It was the CJ Stowers and Peceli Malanicagi show in Masterton on Saturday as the McFall Fuel Whanganui Development XV overwhelmed Wairarapa Bush Development XV 51-7.
While their fellow representative wingers were doing their best to get traction in heavy mud at Cooks Gardens, the Development XV’s speedsters glided across the artificial turf at Memorial Park.
Finishing perfectly on the end of the attacking chains, Stowers ran in five tries, while Malanicagi picked up a hat trick.
“It was a wingers day, that day. And they had a good day,” said coach Danny Tamehana.
“Obviously it was dry, so it suited the likes of Peceli and CJ.”
The veteran Stowers, a 2013 Steelform Whanganui Heartland squad member, has been helping build Black Bull Liquor Pirates back up in the Senior competition, but still shows the speed and guile to stand out at representative level.
“He didn’t look like he’s changed much,” said Tamehana.
Malanicagi was stepping back from the Heartland squad for the game, as did prop Slade Hay-Horton, halfback Kahl Elers-Green and flanker Regan Collier – who were all welcome additions.
“A lot of [regulars] couldn’t make this week, about 5-6, so the guys that came in were good,” said Tamehana.
“Ben O’Leary was quite impressive in set piece and general play,” he added regarding the Dave Hoskin Marist utility forward.
“It all started with the set piece, which was fairly respectable.
“We talked about the finishing side of it, after what happened last week – that was on point this week.”
Previously against Central Hawke’s Bay, Whanganui bombed several first half tries and did not score in the second stanza.
At Memorial Park, they went on with it, converting a 24-7 halftime lead into a half century.
Whanganui Development XV will now travel to face the Wellington Samoans this Saturday, before a return game with Wairarapa Bush Development XV in Whanganui to conclude their campaign.
