Wanganui seemed to field two different teams before downing Buller 42-10 in today's Heartland Meads Cup rugby match in Wanganui.
Wanganui got the speed wobbles in the first spell and made enough mistakes to last a lifetime, going into the halftime break with the scores tied at 10-10.
Halfback Josh Edwards was lost to a yellow card three minutes into the second spell and at that point Wangnui could have lost the game. But somebody pushed the switch button and the home side ran in 32 unanswered points in the last 28 minutes to secure a deceptively comfortable win.
Led by remarkable young Fijian No 8 Ron Katonivere and former Taranaki centre Faapulou Soolefai, Wanganui started to punch huge holes in Buller's defence and eventually ended the game with its red-hot Heartlands favouritism reinforced.
Buller ran out of puff and attacking ideas and only first five-eighth Nathan Thompson ended the game with any real kudos.
Wanganui's major concern was a serious leg injury to first five-eighth and key playmaker Leon Mason. Result: Wanganui 42 (Denning Tyrell 2, John Mow, Faapulou Soolefai, Ron Katonivere, Mark Davis tries; Davis 2 pen, 2 con) Buller 10 (Marcus Taylor try; Nathan Thompson con, drop goal). Halftime: 10-10.
