Rugby: Ruapehu overpower Ratana

Having earned another point in his team's loss to Pirates on Saturday, Border halfback Lindsay Horrocks still leads the Most Valuable Player standings with 12 points. Photo/Bevan Conley

It was a weekend where three of the Tasman Tanning Premier games flip-flopped on the corresponding matches in Round 1 as McCarthy's Ruapehu regained the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield, while Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau pulled off their second big upset of the month.

As advertised, the game inside the Pa was a physical armwrestle as Ruapehu were locked 8-8 with Harvey Round Motors Ratana at halftime.

But this time, Ruapehu pulled the match out 20-15, through tries by midfielder Tautahi Rawiri, fullback Zyon Hekenui and winger Owen King.

Ratana halfback Kane Tamou scored two tries for the home team.

Ruapehu's victory keeps them ahead of Integrity Motors Pirates on the leaderboard, while Ratana's bonus point still keeps them in striking distance of the Top 4 as Waverley Harvesting Border and Taihape both faltered at the weekend.

Taihape's unexpected loss at the Country Club opens up a disparate gap in the middle of the Top 4, while again proving there are no easy games as they went down 24-15 to Kaierau.

Taihape's issue of being under-resourced was compounded by the fact almost their entire bench would have been culled from their senior team, who were on a bye week.

Kaierau were close to full strength and led 12-10 at halftime after tries by winger Stuart Brosnahan and second-five Areta Lama, with one in reply from Taihape fullback Dane Whale.

The home side went on with it in the second stanza through scores to fullback Taylor Kirkwood and winger Jordan Farrington, while Taihape's Jaye Flaws scoring his fourth try in two games was not enough to carry his team home.

Kaierau have now won three of their past four matches, including the prized scalps of Pirates and Taihape, after six straight defeats to open their campaign.

Over at Memorial Park, Utiku Old Boys avenged their 34-0 hammering in March with a 24-12 win over Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, who have not tasted success since April 12.

Marist led early 9-3 off the boot of Sean Brown, but Utiku scored tries in each half through Josh Brennan and Fijian import Michael Nabuliwaqa to get their second win of 2014.

In Senior rugby, Ruapehu just managed to hold on to the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield by virtue of a 10-10 draw with top-of-the-table Marist Celtic.

Defending champions Power Farming (PN) Hunterville showed they are over their early- season drop in form, holding off a late comeback to beat Trans Pacific Pirates 32-18.

Downs Group Marton picked up a crucial bonus point from their 60-0 mauling of Kaierau at the Country Club, which leaves them a chance of making the Top 6, with two games left.

Results, May 31

Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 11

Integrity Motors Pirates 28 (Johnny Mow 2, Samu Etuati tries, Manulua Lafi 3 pen, 2 con) bt Waverley Harvesting Border 13 (Jareth Hawea try, Sikeli Ulukuta 2 pen, con). HT: 3-all.

Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 24 (Stuart Brosnahan, Areta Lama, Taylor Kirkwood, Jordan Farrington tries, Farrington 2 con) bt Taihape 15 (Dane Whale, Jaye Flaws tries, Tom Wells pen, con). HT: 12-10.

Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - McCarthy's Ruapehu 20 (Tautahi Rawiri, Zyon Hekenui, Owen King tries, Hekenui pen, Rawiri con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 15 (Kane Tamou 2 tries, Western Hemi pen, Tamou con). HT: 8-all.

Utiku OB 24 (Josh Brennan, Michael Nabuliwaqa tries, Taylor Transom 4 pen, con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 12 (Sean Brown 4 pen). HT: 11-9.

Bye: Speirs Food Marton.

Grand Irish Bar Most Valuable Player points

At Spriggens Park: Manulua Lafi (Pirates No 8) 3 points, Johnny Mow (Pirates second five), Ray Stark (Border No 8) and Lindsay Horrocks (Border halfback) 1 each.

At Kaierau Country Club: Darren Munro (Kaierau No 8) 3, Jaye Flaws (Taihape winger) 2, Terau Wirihana (Kaierau first five) 1.

At Ratana Pa: Zyon Hekenui (Ruapehu fullback) 3, Nick Cranston (Ruapehu lock), Vaan Rauhina (Ratana prop) and Petera Martin (Ratana second five) 1 each.

At Taihape: Michael Nabuliwaqa (Utiku OB fullback) 3, Ryan Gill (Marist No 8) 2, Malakai Volau (Utiku OB No 8) 1.

MVP Leaders: Lindsay Horrocks (Border) 12 points, Vaan Rauhina (Ratana), William Short (Ruapehu) and Clive Stowers (Pirates) 10, Darren Munro (Kaierau) 9, Jamie Hughes (Ratana), Ryan Gill (Marist) and Ray Stark (Border) 8, Sikeli Ulukuta (Border) 7, Isaac Greer (Marton), Simon Hillis and Manulua Lafi (Pirates), Hoani Rameka (Utiku OB) and Rory Gudsell (Marist) 6, Marcus Totman and Jaye Flaws (Taihape), Logan Vaughan (Ruapehu), Junior Tume (Pirates) 5, Brett Nicholls, Ritchie Iorns and Dane Whale (Taihape), Matt Crawford (Utiku OB), Nick Cranston, Zyon Hekenui and Andrew Evans (Ruapehu) 4, 17 players with 3 points each.

Senior Championship, Week 11

At Spriggens Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Marist Celtic drew with Ruapehu 10-10. HT: 7-3 Ruapehu.

At Spriggens Park: Power Farming (PN) Hunterville bt Trans Pacific Pirates 32-18. HT: 17-6.

At Kaierau Country Club: Downs Group Marton bt Kaierau 60-0. HT: 41-0.

At Dallison Park, Waverley: Tech bt Border 15-10. HT: 15-0.

At Ratana Pa: Counties bt Ratana 50-0. HT: 12-0.

At Memorial Park: Marist Buffalo's bt Utiku OB 44-8. HT: 10-3.

Bye: Taihape.