BATTLE OUT WIDE: Kaierau winger Karl Pascoe looks for support as Utiku's Samu Kubunavanua gets a hold of him at the Country Club. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER 040415WCLGRUGBY2
BATTLE OUT WIDE: Kaierau winger Karl Pascoe looks for support as Utiku's Samu Kubunavanua gets a hold of him at the Country Club. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER 040415WCLGRUGBY2
It is a Tasman Tanning Premier week-three points table that will get an immediate double take from anyone familiar with Wanganui club rugby, as not only are perennial contenders McCarthy's Ruapehu winless, but Utiku Old Boys have continued their great start with a second bonus-point victory.
Travelling over to theCountry Club, Utiku beat previous Ruapehu conqueror Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 35-29, hanging on after scoring three first-half tries to open up a big 21-5 advantage.
Kaierau came back, outscoring the visitors three tries to two in the second half.
Utiku's outside Fijian backs have gotten much of the spotlight over the last two seasons, but it was one of their brethren in tryscoring No8 forward Malakai Volou who stood up as game MVP. Ricky Alabaster converted all five of Utiku's tries.
Waverley Harvesting Border was not the only team to have a close shave as Integrity Motors Pirates left it until injury time to score their fifth try and beat a game Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 27-23 in the Spriggens Park derby.
Pirates centre S'aena Vili scores in injury time for his ream to beat Marist at Spriggens Park. Photo: Sarah Lourie.
Played on Old Timers' Day, Pirates scored three tries in the first half then got their bonus point in the second stanza, yet Josaia Dawai could add only one conversion, as Marist hit the front with their third try and two penalties from the boot of Grayson Tihema.
When a desperate Pirates were awarded a quick tap and centre S'aena Vili crashed over with time gone, referee Ben Lourie was initially going to rule he was held up, before both touch judges confirmed the ball was grounded.
In Senior rugby, six-time champions Kelso Hunterville made a major statement to hot newcomers Ngamatapouri - travelling to the reformed club to beat them 27-17 and retain the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield. After being at the bottom end of the championship group last year, Sealswinslow Pirates are looking promising after their third bonus point victory, hammering Marist Buffalo's 48-5 on the Wanganui Racecourse ground. Ruapehu are the other undefeated team, although that was via a default from Border.
