Border and Ruapehu in top spots

Ngamatapouri tryscorer Samu Kubunavanua takes on the Ratana defence in their away win at the Pa on Saturday.

McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu climbed from fifth to second on the Tasman Tanning Premier table after holding off Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 29-22 at Rochfort Park on Saturday.

Despite scoring five tries to one, Ruapehu could not keep Marist far from striking distance, as Mitchell Millar slotted five penalties in the first half for the visitors, while converting winger Simon Dibben's second half try.

Tryscorers for the home side were Shaquille Waara, Roman Tutauha, Kahl Elers-Green, Troy Brown, Campbell Hart.

The turnaround means Waverley Harvesting Border have made a break on the rest of the Premier group after they made a statement with an emphatic 54-20 win over PGG Wrighton/Balance Taihape at Dallison Park.

Defending the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield, Border's winning margin wasn't quite as big as the 53-8 thumping the previous time the two sides met in Waverley last June, but with the home side leading 39-15 at halftime, the writing was on the wall.

Centre Kaveni Dabonaise scored a hat trick as five members of Border's in-form backline crossed the chalk, with fullback Nick Harding contributing 17 points.

Te Rangi Tapu McLeod scored two tries for Taihape, as well as adding a conversion.

Down at the Pa, visiting Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri accomplished their goal of a third-straight win to join the playoffs race with a 36-0 dismissal of wooden-spooners Harvey Round Motors Ratana.

Ngamatapouri scored three tries in each half, with Emosi Vucago getting a double, while first-five Te Tua Kemp added three conversions against his old club.

The South Taranaki club will have a tough conclusion to their debut round in Premier, taking on Border at the annual duck shooting night game on Friday, followed by a home match with Ruapehu on May 13.

In Senior rugby, Speirs Food Marton confirmed their hot favouritism for the title after they beat second-placed Black Bull Liquor Pirates 46-7 to lift the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield at Spriggens Park.

It was their seventh straight win and puts them clear on top of the table, while Pirates are still clear of Hunterville in third spot, as they were on the bye.

Celtic missed the chance to move into the Top 4 after they were upset 10-5 by Counties in the other Spriggens Park game, with the visitors getting a small measure of payback for their narrow quarterfinal defeat last year.

Border leapfrogged Taihape into fourth spot after a 19-6 win over them at Dallison Park, while Ruapehu won a high scoring game at home against the Buffalo's, 56-26.

Results, April 29
Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 7.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Waverley Harvesting Border 54 (Kaveni Dabonaise 3, Nick Harding, Renato Tikoilosomone, Grayson Tihema, Isaiah Hooper, Harry Symes tries; Harding 2 pen, 3 con; Tihema con) bt PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 20 (Te Rangi Tapu McLeod 2, Matt Brown tries; Tom Wells pen; McLeod con). HT: 39-15.

Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 36 (Emosi Vucago 2, Eon Wallace, Samu Kubunavanua, Jim Seruwalu, Isireli Baleitavuku tries; Te Tua Kemp 3 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 0. HT: 17-0.

Utiku OB 30 (Ra Broughton 2, Matt Crawford, Karl Farrell tries; Max Navas 2 pen, 2 con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 21 (Lafaele Malo 2, Joel Martin tries; Ethan Robinson 2 con; Rhys Wylie con). HT: 10-7.

McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 29 (Shaquille Waara, Roman Tutauha, Kahl Elers-Green, Troy Brown, Campbell Hart tries; Cruze Pene 2 con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 22 (Simon Dibben try; Mitchell Millar 5 pen, con). HT: 17-15.

Bye: Black Bull Liquor Pirates.

Senior Championship, Round 7.
Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield - Speirs Food Marton bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 46-7. HT: 29-0.

Counties bt Celtic 10-5. HT: 10-0.

Border bt Taihape 19-6. HT: 12-3.

Ruapehu bt Buffalo's 56-26. HT: 21-12.

Kaierau bt Utiku OB by default.

Bye: Kelso Hunterville.