The Wanganui Toyota Development XV have locked away the RDO Shield with one game remaining after an 85-21 hammering off an understrength Horowhenua-Kapiti Development at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
The first leg of two matches with the same team to finish off the competition, the Wanganui team and especially their Heartland Championship squad players will be hoping for slightly tougher opposition in Levin this week, after the visitors did not travel north with a full squad.
"They were struggling for numbers, had 13 to start, and a couple of their Under 19's showed up to make up the numbers," said Wanganui coach Kim McNaught.
"Their manager told me they weren't allowed any of their Heartland players."
The top Horowhenua Kapiti squad had travelled north to Te Kuiti to defeat King Country that afternoon.