order halfback and joint MVP points leader Lindsay Horrocks dives over for his try in the win over Marist at Spriggens Park on Saturday. Photo/Bevan Conley
order halfback and joint MVP points leader Lindsay Horrocks dives over for his try in the win over Marist at Spriggens Park on Saturday. Photo/Bevan Conley
The team who haven't won this season beat the side who haven't lost as Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau pulled off the upset of 2014 so far with an extraordinary 25-20 win over Tasman Tanning Premier frontrunners Integrity Motors Pirates at the Country Club on Saturday.
Although often a game withextra spice as so many Pirates personnel from coach Phillip Morris on down are former Kaierau men, while the home side has had patches of form which suggests they're better than what six straight defeats shows, few would have predicted Kaierau would topple the competition leaders who were only seven days removed from the high of beating fellow power club McCarthy's Ruapehu in Ohakune.
With the exception of No8 Lasa Ulukuta pencilled in on the reserves bench, it was virtually the same starting XV which beat Ruapehu so the excuse of Pirates resting players does not apply.
Playing in front of the faithful for Kaierau Old Timers' Day, first-five Jordan Farrington scored his third try in two games, while winger Stu Brosnahan added a double for the second time in a match in 2014.
Pirates leading lights in hooker and captain Junior Tume, fullback Samu Etuati and big centre Kameli Kuruyabaki all scored tries but Kaierau's three-point lead at halftime was maintained by the final whistle.
The victory mirrors Kaierau's defeat of Pirates in their first game last year, while closing the gap on the points table so McCarthy's Ruapehu and Taihape both have an outside chance at sneaking up and claiming the Paul Mitchell Cup as Round one winners this coming weekend.
This would require Pirates to have a second bad week in a row against Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, whose hard run at the back end of the round continued with a 29-8 loss to Waverley Harvesting Border at Spriggens Park.
Border wrapped up their Round 1 with a four tries to one win, as winger Sikeli Ulukuta had another profitable day with 14 more points for his personal tally.
Down at Marton Park, it was another tight tussle for the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield but Harvey Round Motors Ratana maintained their tenuous grip, beating Speirs Food Marton 23-19.
Perhaps learning from their 13-0 defeat on the same ground in 2013, Ratana did not ignore kickable points when they were on offer as first-five Caleb Maraku landed three penalties to go with conversions of second-half tries by Te Tua Kemp and Jamie Hughes.
That goal kicking would prove the difference as Marton got three five-pointers through Tyler Rogers-Holden, Meni Faasau and Mundsan Ah Chong.
Ratana remained poised as the only team outside the Top 4 who remain in semifinal contention.
In Senior rugby, Marist Celtic picked up a 25-8 win over Border.
Defending champions Power Farming (PN) Hunterville got back on track with clear cut 41-17 victory against Marist Buffalo's, while Taihape made their first defence of the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield with a 28-10 local derby win over Utiku Old Boys.
