Ruapehu move ahead in Premier with another blowout

Ruapehu's Shaquille Waara looks to bust Ratana's defence in his four-try effort in Ohakune, backed by double tryscorer Kahl Elers-Green and goalkicker Mitchell Millar. Photo by Merrilyn George

Tasman Tanning Premier has a new leader as McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu is the only remaining team with three wins after another hammering, this time against Harvey Round Motors Ratana by 71-12 at Rochfort Park.

Ruapehu have scored 166 points in their last two games, with those opponents Ratana and Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri confirmed to likely be the minnow teams for this season.

After the score was 14-5 in the early exchanges, the floodgates opened as Ruapehu led 42-5 at halftime and carried on with it in the second half.

Winger Shaquille Waara scored four tries to followup his hatrick the previous week, and rockets to the top of the tryscorers list with eight from three games.

Halfback Kahl Elers-Green got a double for the second week in a row, while first-five Mitchell Millar continues to his enjoy his time with his new club with a 21 point haul from a try and eight conversions.

Playing their first regular season Country Club match after giving Ruapehu their only test then holding Black Bull Liquor Pirates to a draw, Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau came out a little flat against Waverley Harvesting Border, which was costly in the 29-10 loss.

Border scored three tries to one, staying in the Top 4, as they fronted up with three Steelform Wanganui representatives in the front row in Tietie Tuimauga, Kamipeli Latu and Hamish Mellow moving into the hooker position.

However, Kaierau's scrum was solid, but again a team filled with all the young and fringe representative players still lacked for a veteran's direction, while a foot injury to lock Josh Lane did not help.

Regular winger Stu Brosnahan took the openside flanker role and gave a good effort trying to get his side some go-forward.

Border speedster Harry Symes controlled one pass with his fingertips to then show his uncatchable pace with a try, while first-five Tyler Rogers-Holden and fullback Nick Harding also scored, with Harding adding 14 points with the boot as his team just chipped away at the scoreboard.

Handed the captaincy this year, halfback Lindsay Horrocks has also unlocked his running game, taking more opportunities to test the defence.

At Memorial Park, PGG Wrightson-Ballance Taihape rebounded from their loss across the district to Border to pick up a comfortable 45-10 win over Ngamatapouri to build up some confidence before the daunting trip up the road to Ohakune this coming Saturday.

Taihape scored seven tries to two, with player-coach Dane Whale contributing 15 points from a try and five conversions.

The visitors scored in each half through Jim Seruwalu and Sloan Wallace.

While Kaierau did not have a lot of joy in Premier, the party was on for the Senior team after an extraordinary comeback to lift the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield off undefeated competition leaders Border 27-26 at the Country Club.

The strong wind, which died away somewhat for the Premier games, had an influence with both teams scoring all their points with the breeze at their backs, as Kaierau came from 26-0 down at halftime to win the match with a sideline conversion on fulltime.

Ironically, Border had not even brought the shield down with them, so Kaierau's players made a cardboard cut-out to represent their prize for the aftermatch celebrations.

Border's stumble allowed in-form Counties to regain the top of the table position with a 35-6 away win over Taihape at Memorial Park.

However, Hunterville continued to signal ominous form as the only other unbeaten team left in the grade, as they beat neighbours Utiku Old Boys 48-5 on the same ground.

While the Marist Premier team didn't have a lot of joy, it was a good Saturday for the club's Senior teams as Celtic picked up a comfortable 45-10 win over Black Bull Liquor Pirates in the Spriggens derby, while Buffalo's got a confidence-boosting 29-5 win over Ruapehu up in Ohakune.

Results, April 7

Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 3

Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Black Bull Liquor Pirates 27 (Elijah Ah Chong 2, Faamanu Pulemagafa, Junior Ainea tries; Ainea pen, con, Fa'alele Iosua con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 17 (Sean Cummins, Taione Ratu, Sam Madams tries; Sam Monaghan con). HT: 15-7.

Waverley Harvesting Border 29 (Tyler Rogers-Holden, Harry Symes, Nick Harding tries; Harding 4 pen, con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 10 (Eric Sagapolutele try; Shandon Scott pen, con). HT: 18-3.

PGG Wrightson-Ballance Taihape 45 (Luke Whale, Dane Whale, Te Rangi Tapu McLeod, Matt Brown, Dylan Gallien, Ces Bourke, unknown scorer tries; Dane Whale 5 con) bt Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 10 (Jim Seruwalu, Sloan Wallace tries). HT: 26-5.

Ruapehu 71 (Shaquille Waara 4, Kahl Elers-Green 2, Campbell Hart, Troy Brown, Jake Kinder, Corey Carmichael, Mitchell Millar tries; Millar 8 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 12 (Marius Joseph, Shade Pukutohe tries; Arahi Hawira con). HT: 42-5.

Senior Championship, Round 4

At Spriggens Park: Celtic bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 45-10. HT: 19-5.

At Country Club (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Kaierau bt Border 27-26. HT: 26-0 Border.

At Memorial Park: Kelso Hunterville bt Utiku OB 48-5. HT: 19-0.

At Memorial Park: Counties bt Taihape 35-6. HT: 22-6.

At Rochfort Park: Buffalo's bt Ruapehu 29-5. HT: 17-0.

Bye: Speirs Food Marton.