Marist No8 Ryan Gill looks to get his pass away under pressure from Kaierau flanker Ephraim Reynolds at Spriggens Park. Photo/Stuart Munro
The ranks of the Tasman Tanning top four have closed up markedly after a tough Week 13 of physical games, but the remaining outside contender has dropped off the pace after Taihape registered an important 20-13 win in the Pa against Harvey Round Motors Ratana on Saturday.
Once again, Ratana took the lead into the second half with a penalty kick and breakout converted try from halfback Kane Tamou. But they were not able to maintain the momentum as Taihape scored three tries through Johnathon Maxwell and the Whales Luke and Dane.
The result leaves Ratana six points back in fifth spot and with upcoming games against a rested Integrity Motors Pirates at home and then Waverley Harvesting Border in Waverley, they seem unlikely to snatch a semi berth.
At Spriggens Park, Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist continued their return to respectability with their second win over Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, as goal kicking took them to a 19-7 victory.
Marist winger Scott Dowman and Kaierau winger Jordan Farrington scored tries in the first half, but Marist would add four penalties through first-five Sean Brown and reserve back Tyson Manaena to get home.
At Memorial Park, Speirs Food Marton also made it two straight in 2014, again by four points, when they beat Utiku Old Boys 24-20 after a second-half comeback. Utiku scored both their tries to Fijian import Semi Rabradra and Josh Hirini to take a 17-10 lead into the break.
However, tries to Tausala Pese, Tyler Rogers-Holden and the goalkicking by Jake Karaynidis saw Marton overtake their hosts and climb ahead in the wooden spoon race.
Trans Pacific Pirates had their biggest win of 2014 with a second half comeback to topple the undefeated Marist Celtic 17-15 in the derby game. The upset safeguarded Pirates' place in the Top 6, while allowing defending champions Power Farming (PN) Hunterville to move top of the table after their 78-12 mauling of Ratana.
Needing to win, Downs Group Marton's hopes of making the Top 6 nose-dived into the Rochfort Park turf as they were well beaten 34-5 by Ruapehu, which made Border safe in the championship group, although they made sure of it with a 47-12 disposal of Marist Buffalos at Wanganui Racecourse.
The results leave Marton and Counties as the top two teams in the consolation grade and likely favourites to decide that trophy between them.
Results, June 14
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 13
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 19 (Scott Dowman try, Sean Brown 2 pen, con, Tyson Manaena 2 pen) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 7 (Jordan Farrington try, con). HT: 13-7.
Taihape 20 (Johnathon Maxwell, Luke Whale, Dane Whale tries, Tom Wells pen, Dane Whale con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 13 (Kane Tamou try, pen, con, Te Tua Kemp pen). HT: 10-8 Ratana.
Speirs Food Marton 24 (Tausala Pese, Tyler Rogers-Holden tries, Jake Karaynidis 4 pen, con) bt Utiku OB 20 (Semi Rabradra, Josh Hirini tries, Te Rangi Tapu McLeod 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 17-10 Utiku OB.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield Waverley Harvesting Border 18 (Andy Hamilton, Sikeli Ulukuta tries, Ulukuta 2 pen, con) bt McCarthy's Ruapehu 13 (Owen King, Dylan Pearce tries, Tautahi Rawiri pen). HT: 18-5.
Bye: Integrity Motors Pirates.
Grand Irish Bar Most Valuable Player points
At Spriggens Park: Simon Dibben (Marist winger) 3 points, Josh Edwards (Kaierau halfback) 2, Tom Monaghan (Marist flanker) 1.
At Ratana: Slade Hay-Horton (Taihape prop) 3, Te Tua Kemp (Ratana first five) 2, Dane Whale (Taihape fullback) 1.
At Taihape: Chris Rayner (Marton flanker) 3, Semi Rabradra (Utiku OB winger) 2, Hoani Rameka (Utiku OB lock) 1.
At Ohakune: Sikeli Ulukuta (Border winger) 3, Zyon Hekenui (Ruapehu fullback) 2, Roman Tutauha (Ruapehu hooker) 1.
MVP Leaders: Lindsay Horrocks (Border) 15 points, William Short (Ruapehu) 12, Ryan Gill (Marist) 11, Vaan Rauhina (Ratana), Sikeli Ulukuta (Border) and Clive Stowers (Pirates) 10, Manulua Lafi (Pirates) and Darren Munro (Kaierau) 9, Jamie Hughes (Ratana) and Ray Stark (Border) 8, Hoani Rameka (Utiku OB), Nick Cranston (Ruapehu) and Simon Hillis (Pirates) 7, Isaac Greer (Marton), Zyon Hekenui (Ruapehu), Simon Dibben and Rory Gudsell (Marist) 6, Ephraim Reynolds (Kaierau), Marcus Totman and Jaye Flaws (Taihape), Logan Vaughan (Ruapehu), Dane Whale (Taihape) and Junior Tume (Pirates) 5.
Senior Championship, Week 13
At Spriggens Park: Trans Pacific Pirates bt Marist Celtic 17-15. HT: 15-3 Celtic.
At Racecourse: Border bt Marist Buffalo's 47-12. HT: 24-12.
At Hunterville: Power Farming (PN) Hunterville bt Ratana 78-12. HT: 33-12.
At Ohakune: Ruapehu bt Downs Group Marton 34-5. HT: 22-0.
At Racecourse (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Tech bt Taihape by default.
At McNab Domain: Counties bt Utiku OB by default.
Bye: Kaierau.
Senior draw (next Saturday)
Championship: Celtic v Pirates, Spriggens Park, 1pm; Tech v Border, Spriggens Park, 2.30pm; Hunterville v Ruapehu, Hunterville, 2pm.
Consolation (all 1pm): Kaierau v Utiku OB, Kaierau; Ratana v Buffalo's, Ratana; Taihape v Counties, Taihape; Marton bye.