The New Zealand Heartland XV and their five Whanganui players had a great start to the Jock Hobbs Memorial Under 19 tournament with an injury time win on Sunday.
Heartland defeated Auckland Development 19-16 when first-five Tomas Hanham-Carter broke the deadlock with his fourth penalty goal after the 70 minute mark in Taupo.
Part of Mid Canterbury's Heartland Championship squad, Hanham-Carter scored all of his team's points, being on the end of a well-constructed try in the corner after multiple phases in Heartland's best attacking period of the game.
The scores were deadlocked 6-6 at halftime, then Heartland scored 10 points in the 12 minutes after the break to lead 16-6, before Auckland Development came back to level the match.
Assistant coach Justin Lock said the team, who were still learning each others names, had done well considering the Aucklanders had six games together as a playing group.