"The last five minutes the other teams got that try to get the bonus point against us – but a win is a win," said coach Tane Martin of the mixed bag.
"We've got a lot of young fellas coming through, and us old fellas are trying to jump out of the way.
"Trying to do set plays, but the boys are getting better.
"Once we get that right, we can move on and expand."
The 2019 version of Taihape dominated Senior – which was played as a first round competition – before moving up to the hybrid Division 2, where their run at another silver cup was derailed in the semifinals by the-then Premier squad of Black Bull Liquor Pirates, whom they had previously beaten in the round-robin.
The Covid-19 disrupted 2020 season brought some personnel changes, with Taihape finishing in the lower mid-table with a 4-1-5 record.
Head coach Dylan Ratana stepped down to focus on other sporting commitments, so Martin has been joined by Sefo Bourke - bringing all his experience from the successes in Premier with Byford's Readimix Taihape, as well as having won another club title in Otorohanga.
It is Old Timers Day at Memorial Park on Saturday, and as well as the Premier match of Taihape vs Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, the Taihape Seniors will take on Counties in the first of three home fixtures.
While starting as favourites, Martin has seen enough close calls over the past four weeks to not take anyone for granted.
"Every team is different and Counties is another country team like us. You can't take any team easy with the scores."
The Senior draw
May 15, 1pm kickoff (times subject to change): Taihape vs Counties, Memorial Park; Marton vs Pirates, Marton Park; Border vs Ratana, Dallison Park; Hunterville vs Kaierau, Hunterville; Marist Buffalos vs Utiku Old Boys, Spriggens Park; Ruapehu vs Marist
