Ngamatapouri flanker Samu Kubunavanua dives into score in Saturday's nail biting game with Marist at Spriggens Park.
The front runners of this season's Tasman Tanning Premier title are beginning to emerge as defending champions Waverley Harvesting Border are now the only unbeaten side after their impressive 48-22 win over Black Bull Liquor Pirates at Waverley on Saturday.
Unquestionably fielding the best backline in the competition right now in terms of continuity, even without linchpin captain Fraser Middleton, Border were able to get wide quickly with wingers Isaiah Hooper and Tom Symes grabbing doubles, as did prolific tryscoring centre Kaveni Dabonasie.
One of Symes' tries, from a scrum in their own half, came from perfect passes which hit the receiver at pace, as each back drew his man for Symes to go over untouched.
Pirates halfback Fal'alele Iosua scored two tries for the visitors, who could not crack a fourth score to get what could have proved a precious bonus point given McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu are on the climb.
At Spriggens Park, Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist kept their current three-game winning streak alive, but only just after a big second half comeback from the newcomers Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri - Marist holding out 38-31 with the visitors only metres from their line when the clock ran out.
Bringing a bigger squad than a fortnight ago against Pirates, Ngamatapouri came roaring back from 24-3 down at halftime, despite being reduced to 14 when second-five Isireli Baleitavuku was red-carded for a dangerous tackle around the head area.
Referee Noah Viliamu also sinbined two Marist players, while awarding Ngamatapouri a penalty try, which under the new rules is automatically seven points with no conversion attempt required.
Marist scored five tries to four, with front rowers Kayden Shedlock and Viki Tofa getting on the scoresheet, along with outside backs David Pachonick and Simon Dibben, plus second-five Steelie Koro.
Samu Kubunavanua, still being used at flanker for Ngamatapouri, grabbed a double, while first-five Te Tua Kemp contributed 14 points.
Over at Memorial Park, PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape maintained their Top 4 spot while Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau suffered another heavy loss to a contender in consecutive matches, 58-14.
The writing was on the wall with Taihape up 32-0 at halftime, as the home team's outside backs all got on the tryscorers sheet, while Te Rangitapu McLeod scored a double and added another 14 points with the boot.
Kaierau's Ethan Robinson scored all of his team's points with two converted tries.
Ruapehu will now be trying to break into the Top 4 this coming weekend at the expense of Pirates when they meet at Spriggens Park, while Taihape will want to move back to second as Marist take the bye week, although it won't be easy with a long journey over to Ngamatapouri ahead.
In Senior rugby, Spiers Food Marton saw off another potential challenger to their supremacy, beating Counties 32-13 at McNab Domain after scoring 19 unanswered points in the second half.
Black Bull Liquor Pirates mirrored that effort, and with it kept possession of the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield, by likewise scoring all the points in the second half against Border, winning 29-7 in Waverley.
Kelso Hunterville rebounded from their loss to Marton by punishing Marist Buffalos 64-7 at Spriggens Park, while Taihape kept tabs on the competition frontrunners with a 43-10 win over Kaierau at Memorial Park.
Results, April 8
Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 4.
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 38 (Kayden Shedlock, Viki Tofa, David Pachonick, Simon Dibben, Steelie Koro tries; Michael Millar pen, 5 con) bt Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 31 (Samu Kubunavanua 2, Te Tua Kemp tries, penalty try; Kemp pen, 3 con). HT: 24-3.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield: Waverley Harvesting Border 48 (Isaiah Hooper 2, Tom Symes 2, Kaveni Dabonaise 2, Grayson Tihema, Lindsay Horrocks tries; Nick Harding 3 con, Cole Baldwin con) bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 22 (Fal'alele Iosua 2, Aperagmo Fiu tries; Junior Ainea pen, 2 con). HT: 24-7.
PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 54 (Te Rangitapu McLeod 2, Peter Hay-Horton, Jaye Flaws, James Barrett, Ritchie Irons, Cyrus Paringatai, Paora McCarthy tries; McLeod 2 pen, 4 con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 14 (Ethan Robinson 2 tries; Robinson 2 con). HT: 32-0.
McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 88 (Corey Carmichael 2, Kahl Elers-Green 2, Campbell Hart 2, Te Huia Hakaraia, Craig Clare, Shaquille Waara, Brad Scarrow, Robert Hughes, Kim McNaught, Troy Brown, Andrew Evans tries; Clare 8 con, Hughes con) bt Utiku OB 7 (Guy Heard try, Dylan Ratana con). HT: 45-0.
Bye: Harvey Round Motors Ratana.
Senior, Round 4
Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield: Black Bull Liquor Pirates bt Border 29-7. HT: 10-7.
Kelso Hunterville bt Buffalo's 64-7. HT: 26-7.
Speirs Food Marton bt Counties 32-13. HT: 13-all.
Taihape bt Kaierau 43-10. HT: 31-0.
Ruapehu bt Utiku OB by default.
Bye: Celtic.