Samu Kubunavanua set up one try and scored another in the final quarter as Country came from behind to beat Town in the trial match at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
An evenly-matched Wanganui representative trial meant the intensity stayed throughout and plenty of players had opportunity to press their case as Country came from behind in the final quarter to run out 48-40 winners over Town at Spriggens Park
On a warm early Saturday afternoon, around 50 players out of the original 59 invited, including a couple more added during the week, were able to play a back-and-forth contest, with the scoreline rarely more than a converted try difference until the last ten minutes when Country set loose their Ngamatapouri Fijian flyers to break away from tiring defenders and blow out to a 48-33 advantage.
Before that, both sides offered a good contrast in their preferred attacks - as Country were very strong from the set piece with flanker Jamie Hughes reaping the benefits, as he was on the end of three successful forward pack drives into the in-goal for a hat trick.
Town were able to do their damage in broken play, either sweeping down on errors or gunning towards the gaps out wide with chip kicks and individual bursts, keeping a narrow lead throughout most of the contest which was helped by getting their tries closer to the posts for the goal kickers.
Across the park, prospects and outsiders alike made their presence known, as Town prop Marek Willis scored a double while showing good toe, while after being left out of last year's Meads Cup playoffs, Country's Tremaine Gilbert was determined to stake his claim.
Irishman Shandon Scott proved a good director as Town's first-five, opposing the Wanganui incumbent Dane Whale.
Youngsters in Town flanker Cade Robinson and Country hooker Keanu Puki-Kaa were eager tryscorers.
Given some local trials have seen lopsided scorelines with players switching teams mid-game to restore parity, Steelform Wanganui coach Jason Caskey was pleased the match stayed fair dinkim as he and his fellow selectors headed upstairs to make their final decisions.
"Plenty of good intent out there, which is what we want to see.
"People put their hands up, for sure."
Caskey also liked the contrast in styles, as he could see everyone's different strengths and weaknesses.
"Country were a bit more tighter.
"It's pretty good when they're all thrown together quickly."
Country opened the scoring with Hughes being driven over after a penalty lineout, assisted by lock Alex Mulipola.
Town replied when veteran centre Cameron Crowley hit the line at pace and ran the perfect angle to put second-five Josaia Bogileka across clean, then right on quartertime they took the lead against the run of play after Country tried a quick lineout but lost the ball in the tackle, with Town spreading to winger Simon Dibben to beat his man and then offloading to Robinson when dragged down.
Country equalised off a missed Town lineout throw, with Puki-Kaa taking it up and finding Gilbert, before the ball was spread to winger Emori Lodoviko to dive into the corner.
Town tried a box kick for the motoring Dibben, and the Country defender missed it in the air for the veteran winger to scoot off and claim it, before Town were penalised in their half and Country again went to the corner lineout for Hughes to accept his second try off a well co-ordinated drive.
Play was getting phyiscal as Country centre Samu Kubunavanua cleaned up Town fullback Charlie Grid with a big hit, but Country then spilled the ball themselves and Willis showed deceptive pace to grab it and take off for the posts and 26-17.
Country again hit back after the halftime break as the forwards put the ball through the hands until flanker George Gardner found halfback Kahl Elers-Green inside him to score, although Whale was again away with the kick to leave it 26-22.
Another penalty lineout let Country hit the front, as again Hughes joined on the back of the maul and was given a 5m joyride to the chalk, with Whale regaining his kicking form, but Town replied to lead for the third straight interval break as prop Viki Tofa made the initial bust and then looseforward Lake Ah Chong took it on and dived through two tacklers for 33-29.
But Town were beginning to tire in the sunny conditions while Country looked to their Fijian bolters to put it together, and they responded as Kubunavanua flashed through a gap with ball in one hand to find Puki-Kaa inside him to regain the lead.
Timoci Seruwalu went rampaging straight from the kickoff to get Country straight back on attack, then staying in that half, the ball was thrown around by prop Gabriel Hakaraia, Lodoviko and others before coming back to Seruwalu to waltz over.
Country then sealed the match as a set move from the line by the Ngamatapouri boys in Seruwalu and Isireli Baleitavuku saw Kubunavanua power through untouched for the matchwinner.
There was still enough time for a Town consolation try as No8 Ranato Tikoisolomone made a barnstorming burst and bumped away the last defender before finding Willis to get his double on fulltime.
Country 48 (Jamie Hughes 3, Emori Lodoviko, Samu Kubunavanua, Timoci Seruwalu, Kahl Elers-Green, Keanu Puki-Kaa tries; Dane Whale 4 con) bt Town 40 (Marek Willis 2, Lake Ah Chong, Cade Robinson, Josaia Bogileka, Simon Dibben tries; Shandon Scott 3 con, Emosi Vucago 2 con). QT: 12-7 Town; HT: 26-17 Town; 3/4QT: 33-29 Town.