Ruapehu loose forward Jack Kinder on his way to the tryline in his team's key victory over Marist at Spriggens Park on Saturday. Photo by Merrilyn George.
Ruapehu loose forward Jack Kinder on his way to the tryline in his team's key victory over Marist at Spriggens Park on Saturday. Photo by Merrilyn George.
Black Bull Liquor Pirates and McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu have kept pace with each other at the top of the Tasman Tanning Premier table after Saturday, but it was a cruisy afternoon for Pirates with an unexpected day off.
Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri's personnel problems have manifested to the point of an embarrassing default of their home game, a fate that had been threatening a couple of times with mounting injuries amongst the small South Taranaki squad, who have also had issues getting proper numbers to training.
Pirates therefore kept the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield in the cupboard for another weekend as they prepare for the decisive home match against Ruapehu this Saturday.
The Ohakune team successfully completed the first of their back-to-back trips to Spriggens Park with an impressive 45-10 win over previously fourth-placed Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist in another rain-filled matchup.
Scoring three converted tries to lead 21-7 at halftime, Ruapehu did not allow a depleted Marist squad to repeat the last ditch comeback of seven days prior against Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau – scoring four more tries and conceeding only a drop goal from Ashton Coates.
Backline general Craig Clare got two tries, while Mitchell Millar had another profitable day with 15 points from a try and five conversions.
Marist dropped out of the top four as Taihape made a thrilling comeback against Kaierau at Memorial Park, with a devastated Kaierau being denied for the second straight week in the dying minutes, 22-20.
Needing to get their second win to stay in touch with the coveted fourth place spot, Kaierau got a converted try and penalty to lead 10-0 at halftime, repeating the dose in the second stanza.
However, Taihape scored three straight tries from Te Rangi Tapu McLeod, Dylan Gallien, and Ra Broughton, with McLeod adding a conversion and a penalty, for a home team to run down Kaierau yet again.
These two sides, along with Marist, will be expected to have quite the duke out in the second round of matches in their race to get the fourth qualifying spot for the July playoffs.
In Senior rugby, new Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield holders Speirs Food Marton stopped the trend of one-week tenures, but only just by holding on against Utiku Old Boys, 15-7 in a rugged wet-weather match at Marton Park.
Kelso Hunterville continued their unbeaten run on top of the table with a comfortable 39-0 win over Marist Buffalos, despite the rain at the Wanganui Racecourse, while Seales Winslow Pirates possibly had some Premier player reinforcement as they went to McNab Domain and beat Counties 27-18, meaning the former table leaders were unable to leapfrog the on-bye Border to go back into the top four.
Taihape picked up their second win and made it a club double on Saturday with the 44-26 victory over Kaierau, while Celtic kept pace with Hunterville after a big 54-10 win over Ruapehu in the Spriggens Park curtainraiser.
Action from a raining Marton Park between Border and Ratana on Saturday.
Results, April 28.
Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 6.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield – Black Bull Liquor Pirates beat Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri by default.
McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 45 (Craig Clare 2, Campbell Jackson, Andrew Evans, Mitchell Millar, Jack Kinder, Kahl Elers-Green tries; Miller 5 con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 10 (Brad O'Leary try; Ashton Coates dg, Sam Monaghan con). HT: 21-7.
