Marist's Josaia Bogileka taking on Pirates Ricky Boniface and Faalafi Vave at Spriggens Park on Saturday. Photo/Lewis Gardner
Integrity Motors Pirates did what they had to do and secured a home semifinal at Spriggens Park this weekend against Waverley Harvesting Border, five tries lifting them to a 31-0 derby win over Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist.
The loss also signalled the end of Marist's 2014 season as for the second year in a row they have withdrawn from the consolation playoffs series, with wooden spooners Utiku Old Boys taking over eighth place.
On Saturday Pirates welcomed back their inspirational loose forward Lasa Ulukuta after a long layoff with a broken thumb, with Ulukuta being given the chance to add a conversion to the tally.
As well as Pirates being awarded a penalty try, winger Clive Stowers crossed for his 14th five-pointer to move ahead of Ulukuta's younger brother Sikeli, who plays for Border, to top of the tryscorers list for the 2014 regular season.
The result meant that just like the end of Round 1, Border moved from second on the table to third while they were on their bye week.
Also wondering what might have been were Harvey Round Motors Ratana as they completed the regular season with a 27-17 win over Utiku at Memorial Park.
After a tight first half, a further five tries were scored in the second stanza, with Ratana halfback Kane Tamou getting a double.
Despite wins over Pirates, Border and McCarthy's Ruapehu this season, Ratana ultimately finished just three points adrift of Taihape in fifth place, which magnified their 18-15 loss on June 7 to Marist when they blew a 12-point lead, along with their large number of tight matches where they were unable to secure four-try bonus points.
At Marton Park, Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau were able to get themselves a home game in the consolation semifinals, beating Speirs Food Marton 41-20.
Kaierau were also awarded a penalty try amongst their five pointers, while Ace Malo had a good day with the boot by slotting seven kicks.
In the Senior championship, all three games had a bearing on the final makeup of the Top 4 and it was Power Farming (PN) Hunterville and Ruapehu who finished in the strongest positions.
Defending the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield at home against a Marist Celtic team that upset them in Round 1, Hunterville held on for a 28-25 victory to retain the shield for another year, although in 2014 they did lose it to Ruapehu early in the season before regaining it from Tech later on.
Their loss consigned Celtic to the long trip up to Ohakune after Ruapehu completed three weeks of very consistent form to comprehensively polish off Border 40-7, who had been eyeing up fourth spot until the last fortnight.
That result meant Tech were safe for the semifinals no matter what their result, but they made sure of it by running up a 50-7 scoreline over Pirates, who have been outgunned after making it through to the championship group when the senior competition split after June 14.
In Senior consolation, Counties finished top of the table with a 24-8 win over Marist Buffalo's, setting up the semifinal between the same two teams as the Buffalo's were unable to climb past Taihape, who were on their bye week, into third spot.
Marton had to settle for second spot after their 72-0 mauling of bottom of the table Kaierau.
Results, July 19.
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 18.
Integrity Motors Pirates 31 (Clive Stowers, Sanelle Ah Chookoon, Denning Tyrell, Brett Turner tries, penalty try, Manulua Lafi 2 con, Lasa Ulukuta con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 0. HT: 12-0.
Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 41 (Josh Edwards, Nemia Adrole, Te Rau Wirihana, Jordan Farrington tries, penalty try, Ace Malo 2 pen, 5 con) bt Speirs Food Marton 20 (James Gutsell, Saul Chase, Jake Karaynidis tries, Karaynidis pen, con). HT: 20-3.
Harvey Round Motors Ratana 27 (Kane Tamou 2, Marius Joseph, Western Hemi tries, Caleb Maraku pen, 2 con) bt Utiku OB 17 (Michael Nabuliwaqa, Malakai Volau tries, Te Rangi Tapu McLeod pen, 2 con). HT: 5-3.
McCarthy's Ruapehu 16 (Karl Parker, Sonny Woodmass tries, Tautahi Rawiri 2 pen) bt Taihape 14 (Jaye Flaws try, Dane Whale 2 pen, dg). HT: 11-8 Taihape.
Bye: Waverley Harvesting Border.
Grand Hotel Irish Bar Most Valuable Player points
At Spriggens Park: Denning Tyrell (Pirates second five) 3 points, Ricky Boniface (Pirates first five) 2, Tom Nepia (Marist prop) 1.
At Marton Park: Taylor Kirkwood (Kaierau winger) 3, Rob Lavin (Kaierau hooker), James Gudsell (Marton flanker) and Lake Ah Chong (Marton lock) 1 point each.
At Taihape: Charlie Mete (Ratana lock) 3, Kane Tamou (Ratana halfback), Dave Wright (Utiku OB flanker) and Te Rangi Tapu McLeod (Utiku OB first five) 1 point each.
At Ohakune: Williams Short (Ruapehu halfback) and Dane Whale (Taihape fullback) 2, Sonny Woodmass (Ruapehu lock) and Daniel Te Huia (Taihape prop) 1 point each.
Final MVP Points:
Lindsay Horrocks (Border) and William Short (Ruapehu) 19 points, Vaan Rauhina (Ratana) 13, Andrew Evans (Ruapehu), Ryan Gill (Marist), Ray Stark (Border) and Manulua Lafi (Pirates) 12, Clive Stowers (Pirates) 11, Sikeli Ulukuta (Border), Marcus Tottman and Dane Whale (Taihape) 10, Darren Munro (Kaierau) 9, Jamie Hughes (Ratana) 8, Simon Hillis (Pirates), Hoani Rameka (Utiku OB), Isaac Greer (Marton), Ephraim Reynolds (Kaierau) and Nick Cranston (Ruapehu) 7, Chris Thomsen and Chris Rayner (Marton), Zyon Hekenui (Ruapehu), Brett Nicholls (Taihape), Rob Lavin (Kaierau), Charlie Mete (Ratana), Kieran Hussey (Border), Simon Dibben and Rory Gudsell (Marist) 6, Jaye Flaws (Taihape), Michael Nabuliwaqa (Utiku OB), Logan Vaughan (Ruapehu), Josh Edwards (Kaierau) and Junior Tume (Pirates) 5.
Senior championship, Week 18.
At Spriggens Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Power Farming (PN) Hunterville bt Marist Celtic 28-25. HT: 13-10 Celtic.
At Racecourse: Tech bt Pirates 50-7. HT: 22-7.
At Ohakune: Ruapehu bt Border 40-7. HT: 23-7.
Senior consolation, Week 18.
At Racecourse: Counties bt Buffalo's 24-8.
At Marton Park: Marton bt Kaierau 72-0. HT: 41-0.
At Taihape: Ratana bt Utiku OB 24-11. HT: 19-8.
Bye: Taihape.