Rugby: Ratana claim shield with boilover win

Marist centre Josiah Bogileka came back from being sinbinned to score two tries against Utiku Old Boys on Saturday. Photo/Bevan Conley

After spending the 2013 season in the Tasman Tanning Premier wilderness, Harvey Round Motors Ratana are back in business.

The ride home from Ohakune must have been particularly sweet for the team from the Pa after it ended McCarthy's Ruapehu near two-year undefeated streak while lifting the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield with a 10-3 upset victory at Rochfort Park on Saturday.

In their first match of the season against the defending champions, Ratana's win was their first over Ruapehu since their last championship-winning season in 2011, while only the seventh time Ruapehu have lost at Rochfort in 51 games dating back to 2008.

The sides traded penalties through Kane Tamou and Zyon Hekenui to be deadlocked 3-3 at the break and then deep into the second half, before Petra Martin scored what proved to be the winning try.

Claiming the shield represents a remarkable turnaround for Ratana, who managed only two wins while finishing eighth in 2013 their lowest ranking in 14 years whereas Ruapehu amassed 17 wins with one draw on their way to retaining the Premier title they won in 2012.

The boilover allowed Integrity Motors Pirates to move to the top of the table after their impressive start to the season continued with a 25-17 win over rivals Waverley Harvesting Border at Dallison Park.

Picking up where they left off in last year's semifinal victory on the same ground, Pirates scored first through centre Kameli Kuruyabaki, then added two more tries to Samu Etueti and productive winger Clive Stowers, his fifth in two games, to lead 17-0.

Etueti would have his second try after the break to extend the advantage to 22-0, before Border replied with consolation scores from Kieran Hussey and Todd Cowan.

Over at Memorial Park, Taihape rebounded from their opening weekend loss to Pirates to beat Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 51-36 in a free-flowing match where 15 tries were scored.

Taihape got the first try and led 29-7 at halftime, before play really opened up in the second stanza with the visitors grabbing five more tries while the hosts crossed the line on four more occasions.

Doubles were scored by Taihape's Cyrus Tasi and Dylan Maloney, while Kaierau's Jordan Farrington also got two tries.

In Senior rugby, champions Power Farming Palmerston North Hunterville nearly followed Ruapehu's example as they flirted with losing the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield at home to Marton.

A try right on fulltime whisked Hunterville away to a 22-17 win.

Celtic and Ruapehu made it two wins on the trot with thumping victories, respectively hammering Utiku Old Boys 77-0 and Ratana 60-5 in the latter's return to having a full Senior grade team.

Results, March 29

Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 2

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 34 (Simon Dibben 2, Josiah Bogileka 2, Shayden Phillips, Rory Gudsell tries, Scott Dowman 2 con) bt Utiku OB 0. HT: 19-0.

Integrity Motors Pirates 25 (Samu Etueti 2, Clive Stowers, Kameli Kuruyabaki tries, Denning Tyrell pen, con) bt Waverley Harvesting Border 14 (Kieran Hussey, Todd Cowan tries, Bobo Ulukuta 2 con). HT: 17-0.

Taihape 51 (Cyrus Tasi 2, Dylan Maloney 2, Timi Teepa, Matiu Teepa, Jeremy Gilbert, Wiremu Lawrence, Cyrus Paringatai tries, Ricky Alabaster 2 con, Jaye Flaws con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 36 (Jordan Farrington 2, Joel Martin, Isaac Johnson, Ace Malo, Semi Kedrawaca tries, Malo 3 con). HT: 29-7.

Grand Hotel Challenge Shield Harvey Round Motors Ratana 10 (Petra Martin try, Kane Tamou pen, Aaron Paranihi con) bt McCarthy's Ruapehu 3 (Zyon Hekenui pen). HT: 3-all.

Bye: Marton.

Grand Irish Bar MVP points

At Spriggens Park: Ryan Gill (Marist flanker) 3 points, Simon Dibben (Marist winger) 2, Matt Crawford (Utiku OB flanker) 1.

At Waverley: Timoci Ului (Pirates flanker) 3, Ray Stark (Border No8) 2, Junior Tume (Pirates hooker) 1.

At Taihape: Cyrus Paringatai (Taihape second five) 3, Jordan Farrington (Kaierau winger) 2, Tremaine Gilbert (Taihape No 8) 1.

At Ohakune: Western Hemi (Ratana fullback) 3, Peter Rowe (Ruapehu No 8) 2, Jamie Hughes (Ratana flanker) 1.

MVP Leaders: Ray Stark (Border) 5, Clive Stowers, Timoci Ului (Pirates), William Short (Ruapehu), Shayden Phillips, Ryan Gill (Marist), Western Hemi (Ratana), Cyrus Paringatai (Taihape) 3.

Tasman Tanning Senior, Week 2

At Spriggens Park: Celtic bt Utiku OB 77-0. HT: 37-0.

At Racecourse: Tech bt Buffalo's 22-10. HT 15-0.

At Waverley: Border drew with Trans Pacific Pirates 25-25. HT: 14-8 Border.

At Hunterville (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Power Farming (PN) Hunterville bt Marton 22-17. HT: 10-7.

At Taihape: Taihape bt Kaierau 32-5. HT: 22-0.

At Ohakune: Ruapehu bt Ratana 60-5. HT: 26-5.

Bye: Counties.