Narrow win for Canterbury Emerging Players {The Press]

CoachScott Robertson was pleased with his new charges after the Canterbury EmergingPlayers edged out their Tasman Makos rugby counterparts at Omihi, NorthCanterbury yesterday.

Robertsonsaid it was ''the first time in years'' that Canterbury had won the annualpreseason fixture.

FormerFiji Sevens player William Saukuru scored two tries for Canterbury with SebSiataga and Richie Mo'unga also dotting down in ideal mid-winter conditions atthe Glenmark club's home ground.

Robertson,who will name his Canterbury national championship squad on Monday, said it wasa useful exercise.

''Wehad a lot of guys that we wanted to give some exposure to, to see how they wereat this level.

''Alot of them put their hands up.''

Robertsonwas reluctant to single out individuals, but said he was pleased with how theCanterbury players matched the Makos' physical style.

''Andsome of the skill execution under pressure was very good.''

Tasmanalso scored four tries and coach Kieran Keane hoped some of his younger chargeswould heed some important lessons in the wake of yesterday's defeat.

''We'vegot some [inexperienced] boys who probably appreciated playing at that level,so it was very much a step up and they were blowing pretty hard after 20minutes,'' Keane said.

''Thescore was unimportant really, but there were some lessons to be learned fromit. It'll be great for those players to play at that higher speed and moreintensity and also to know that if you make a mistake, you're dead ... sothey've got to take that on board. It was a pretty sound performance.''

Thescoreline was indicative of an even contest with the match finally turning on alate, 90m intercept try to Canterbury.

Canterbury Emerging Players 24 (WilliamSaukuru 2, Seb Siataga, Richie Mo'unga tries; Broc Hooper 2 conv)TasmanMakos Emerging Players 22 (Tevita Cavubati, Mike Wells, BenTyler, Shawn Begg tries, David Havili conv). HT: 5-10.