GOOD NEWS from the front, at last. The Ireland A/Development team duly delivered the first win of their tour to New Zealand with a comprehensive 38-12 win over Thames Valley in Paeroa yesterday. As one Irish wag put it, at least now it won't be a whitewash.

In fact, the Irish were entitled to be a good deal more upbeat than that, for it wasn't just the win itself, more the manner of it. This was again a significant parting with old ways in sodden, muddy conditions that would have ensured the old boot, bite and bollickin 10 man game in BBA (Before Brian Ashton) years.

The crowing moment of their controlled, five try to one win was a pitch length first half try from a daring counter attack off a missed Thames Valley penalty. It embodied the Ashton dictum of keeping the ball to hand, with quick rucking, support play and decision making by the ball carrier. It wouldn't have been attempted in times past.

Leaving the pitch, the Thames Valley manager Dave Webb said to Ashton: "That was almost more New Zealand than New Zealand, the way you tried to play rugby today.

Ashton wasn't sure whether it was a back handed compliment or not, but it was undoubtedly genuine. Webb has watched all the Irish games, as well as attending Friday's training session, and later added: "I'm sure you would have kicked the ball far more often in the last few years. You would have played that game totally differently. It's also better to watch."

Ashton, looking more contented than at any time on the tour so far, quipped that it was a "terrible performance" before admitting: "that was a massive improvement. It built on the second half performance against Bay of Plenty."

Pat Whelan maintained: "The whole thing is progressing along nicely. The players are still making mistakes but if Ireland is going to progress that's the only way to progress. If we have to go backwards first, so be it."

Buoyed by a win, the Irish management were more bullish about this much criticised trip. "It's been incredibly useful," argued Ashton. "I know there are people back in Ireland who don't think so but it has been remarkably useful and those of you who have watched all the games will have seen that the sort of style that we're trying to put into operation has gradually evolved.

"We're still only talking about four games and with a different side each game. They're now looking to play the ball early, to keep it alive, to play it out of contact.

"I think they've now got that little bit of confidence. They probably didn't realise, as a lot of Northern hemisphere teams don't, how good they are because they never challenged themselves on the field or weren't allowed to do so.

"People say there's no point in coming down here, playing against New Zealand sides. My answer to that is, what else do you do if you want to learn? We've learned the hard way and in many ways, from a long term point of view, there's no better way of learning than the hard way.

This morale booster did come at a cost, with Justin Bishop (who went over on his ankle) and Anthony Foley (who damaged a nerve in his bicep) causing more concern than Gavin Walsh (sore neck) and Justin Fitzpatrick (shoulder).

After three games in seven days - today will be the first complete rest day, although it will include another lengthy coach journey of three hours or so south and inland to Taupo in advance of Friday's encounter with King Country - now another winnable one.

That's presuming the party gets out of Whangamata, a onehorse town in which the horse died a few years ago, this morning. One of the two roads south will probably be closed in view of the incessant downpour of the last few days. Everybody back in tropical Ireland will no doubt be delighted that it never stops pelting down here.