League: Manawatu Mustangs just short against Wellingon Orcas in thriller

Richie Graham and his Whanganui Boxon team mates in the Manawatu Mustangs came so close to upset win over Wellington in Palmerston North on Saturday.

They were playing the pride of Wellington Rugby League with a squad culled from just two club sides, and the Manawatu Mustangs nearly upset the Orcas in a gutwrenching 28-26 loss at Fitzherbert Park on Saturday.

Under young coach Haze Reweti the Mustangs, which included 11 members of the Whanganui Boxon, scored the opening try in the first five minutes, before the Wellington Orcas resumed what they figured would be regular transmission with three tries, two converted.

However, Reweti said his side "grew another leg" to come back with two more tries and level the scores 16-16 at halftime.

"It was a very close game, very physical, both teams went out there and put on a good performance.

"It was a game of momentum, the momentum shifted throughout."

The Orcas again scored twice after the break to appear to set themselves up at 28-16, but the Mustangs kept plugging away, getting an unconverted try to narrow the gap to two points with time running out.

They attacked from the kickoff to reach the Orcas tryline, but the final pass was just over the receivers head as the fulltime whistle sounded.

Boxon winger Emitai Logadraudrau scored two of his team's five tries, while clubmate Shade Heta got another while playing the full 80 minutes at prop.

Centre Tautahi Rawiri added three conversions.

"It was a great game to watch," said Reweti, adding he hoped the effort in front of several ex-players from Palmerston North would give them "itchy feet" and be a boost for the MRL, who had to fold their Premier grade this year through lack of teams.

"The boys, I think, through the game their confidence grew.

"We just fell short."

The Mustangs will now play their second NZRL National Championship match against the Taranaki Sharks in New Plymouth this Saturday, and Reweti will see how the squad is trucking at training before deciding on any changes to the current 18.

"There's a lot for us to work on, defensively."