Mataele scores in Manawatu wipeout

Flying Fijians winger Manasa Mataele scored a try for Canterbury to hammer Manawatu 62-15 in their opening match of the Bunnings National Provincial Championship at CET Arena last night.

Mataele with the powerhouse south landers raked in nine tries to two in the wipeout.

Canterbury were unstoppable with tries raining in from all over the paddock through Mataele, Chay Fihaki, Will Gualter, with George Bridge, Brodie McAlister and Fergus Burke getting a brace each.

Burke also added four conversions and a penalty to complete his compliment.

Manawatū’s were not without their moments managing tries through Leif Schwenke and Dre Wild with flyhalf Brett Cameron getting a conversion and a penalty.

By Noa Biudole