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Normally the adage is "win games with backs, win seasons with forwards", but Taihape reversed the mantra after their pack starved Harvey Round Motors Ratana of any multiple phases in the first half of their 17-0 victory to claim the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield on Saturday.
Signalling ominous tones for the other top clubs in the Tasman Tanning Premiership, Taihape's off-season preparations have clearly paid dividends as a number of players now carry extra bulk to make them a force in the engine room.
This was never clearer than in the opening 40 minutes at Memorial Park as only once did Ratana manage to get a four-phase movement coming out of the breakdowns, most of the time struggling to even secure second phase possession as the likes of Taihape try scoring prop Slade Hay-Horton, lock Johnson Hiroa and flankers Dylan Maloney and Timi Teepa mauled them off the ball.
Having converted from centre to No 8, Tremaine Gilbert had the pace to range in the midfield as he opened Taihape's scoring, while first-five Tom Wells, playing behind complete pack supremacy, just had to bring his booming boot into play knowing his forwards would quickly force the turnover inside Ratana's half.
But contesting each ruck so fiercely means pushing the line between legality and infringement, as after scoring all their points in the first half, Taihape had to spend most of the second stanza under the pump by playing nearly the entire final quarter with 13 players. After repeated warnings, referee Gordon Ririnui sent halfback Brett Nicholls, reserve Johnathan Maxwell and Hay-Horton respectively to the sin bin.
Ratana, lead by their front row captain Vaan Rahina, could finally recycle their own ball and open up gaps for big midfielders Vance Pereka and Aaron Paranihi to run through. However, dropped passes and strong Taihape tackling saw Ratana slip inside the final 10 minutes as it became clear they had no answers.
Taihape coach Kerry Whale, still disappointed his team did not upend Integrity Motors Pirates in Week 1 of the competition, is pleased with how much his core players have grown, literally and figuratively, from 2013. "These fellas are working hard, they really are. This is a year in the making, it's not two weeks, not four weeks. We've still got to grow our bench, we've got around 18 guys. With Jeremy [Gilbert] getting hurt, that breaks us, not like the big clubs."
Second-five Jeremy Gilbert left the ground groggy after landing with a hard whack to the head late in the match and will need stand-down time.
Regarding pushing the infringement line, which did prove costly in manpower in the second half, Whale said they were happy to just "leave it".
"That's the way we play we try to create a contest in every situation."
Ratana coach Johno Kaa acknowledged that was his team's downfall, the better side had won. "They did well in the break downs. Kerry's done his homework, and that is his style of game. We've got a bit to work on in terms of that. We were very flat. It's still early in the season. We had a few young guys in different positions today."
Taihape went on the offensive from the early exchanges as centre Cyrus Paringatai was nearly able to put winger Jaye Flaws away on several occasions, with only some great last ditch tackles from Ratana fullback Western Hemi holding the line. But stretched on both sides, Ratana soon opened up as Wells put Tremaine Gilbert over untouched.
Forcing turnover after turnover every time Ratana tried to run it, Taihape soon had themselves back in position for a Wells penalty, while the pack pushed Ratana off their own scrum as Hay-Horton and hooker Rimu Wipaki dictated terms. Hay-Horton powered his way over from a close-range quick tap near halftime.
Still, Ririnui was not happy with some of the hands in the ruck and spoke to both captains before the break, but when his warnings fell on deaf ears he started sending Taihape players behind the posts.
Playing the next quarter of an hour in their own territory, Taihape managed to stop Rahina just inches from the line, and even managed to push back Ratana's attempts at rolling mauls. Both teams had run out of puff inside the final 10 minutes - Flaws going the closest to scoring from a cross kick but being called back by Ririnui.