Border claim the Shield

The Grand Hotel Challenge Shield is going back to South Taranaki after Waverley Harvesting Border eked out another narrow victory in Ohakune on Saturday.

The defending Tasman Tanning Premier champions claimed the one prize currently absent from their trophy case with a 21-18 win over McCarthy Transport Ruapehu, who were playing their first competition match of the campaign after their opening bye week.

Scores were deadlocked 18-18 with less than 20 minutes remaining at Rochfort Park, with Border's prolific scorer Nick Harding deciding the matter with his third penalty goal of the afternoon.

Winger Tom Symes returned for Border and got on the tryscorers sheet with Kaveni Dabonaise, while all of Ruapehu's points came from their incumbent Steelform Wanganui representatives with tries from flanker Jamie Hughes, hooker Roman Tutauha, and three kicks by second-five Craig Clare.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist rebounded from their opening weekend defeat but they still have not hit the high gear expected of potential semifinalists after they held off Utiku Olds Boys 20-15 over at Memorial Park.

Trailing the home side 10-5 at halftime, Marist scored two second half tries to lead 17-10, with Utiku again coming back at them before the final whistle.

Down at Ratana Pa, another championship contender Wrightson/Ballance Taihape also had to dig deep to put an underdog away, eventually beating Harvey Round Motors Ratana 39-8.

Taihape only got away on Ratana inside the final quarter, scoring two more tries to make it six for the afternoon and sit on top of the table ahead of Black Bull Liquor Pirates on points differential.

The Hay-Horton's in Hadley and Peter contributed three of those tries, while Luke Whale has already added the first drop goal of the season in the second week.

In Senior rugby, it is the best of times and worst of times over at Memorial Park as Utiku's second default to Marist Celtic was confirmed as them withdrawing for the season due to lack of numbers.

However, fellow tenants Taihape had a day to remember as they went to Hunterville and scored right on fulltime to take the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield back up the road with them, winning 20-17.

Hunterville had received the Shield back via random draw after the elevation of Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri, but Taihape proved any fears around Senior rugby that their neighbours were going to have yet another record tenure were unfounded.

There was no such luck for Counties at Spriggens Park as they narrowly went down to Pirates 30-27 despite being right on their tryline for the tense final minutes, but despite a handful of free kicks they could not breech the line one final time.

Like their Premier counterparts, the Senior Border vs Ruapehu game at Rochfort was another photo finish, with Border withstanding Ruapehu's second half comeback to win 38-36.

And Speirs Food Marton continued their early season march with another big victory, disposing of Marist Buffalo's 59-5 at Marton Park, scoring more than a point-a-minute in the second half.

Results, March 25.

Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 2.
Black Bull Liquor Pirates 22 (Lasa Ulukuta 2, Fa'alele Iosua, Uaealesi Taumalefau tries, Junior Ainea con) bt Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 20 (Jim Seruwalu 2 tries, Te Tua Kemp 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 14-12 Ngamatapouri.

Wrightson/Ballance Taihape 39 (Hadley Hay-Horton 2, Peter Hay-Horton, Hamish Bennett, Hoani Rameka, Josh Harding tries, Te Rangatapu McLeod 3 con, Luke Whale dg) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 8 (Onewa Tai try, Aaron Paranihi pen). HT: 17-3.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 20 (Cameron Crowley 2, Luke Foster tries, Mitchell Millar pen, con) bt Utiku OB 15 (Emori Lodoviko, Brett Illston, Seamus Murphy tries). HT: 10-5 Utiku OB.

Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Waverley Harvesting Border 21 (Tom Symes, Kaveni Dabonaise tries, Nick Harding 3 pen, con) bt McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 18 (Jamie Hughes, Roman Tutauha tries, Craig Clare 2 pen, con). HT: 13-9 Border.

Bye: Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau.

Tasman Tanning Senior, Round 2.

At Spriggens Park: Black Bull Liquor Pirates bt Counties 30-27. HT: 8-all.

At Marton Park: Speirs Food Marton bt Marist Buffalo's 59-5. HT: 14-0.

At Hunterville (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Taihape bt Hunterville 20-17. HT: 13-7.

At Rochfort Park: Border bt Ruapehu 38-36. HT: 26-12.

At Memorial Park: Celtic bt Utiku OB by default.

Bye: Kaierau.