Steelform Wanganui put on a coach-pleasing performance at Cooks Gardens last night in a mud wrestle with Manawatu B.
The weather-hampered match ended in a 7-all draw but coach Jason Caskey was happy with how the side looked heading into its Heartland Championship opener against South Canterbury in Timaru next weekend.
Wanganui needed to give their backline a run and the pre-season nature of the game allowed them to throw traditional wet-weather tactics out the window.
Kicking for territory and taking penalty goals on offer was traded for ball-in-hand attack.
Wanganui broke the visitor's defence on several occasions in the first spell with forays into Manawatu territory. Offered three shots at goal throughout the match, the home side turned them down in search of five-pointers.