Even plays that Kaierau could read and snuff out still meant conceding 15-20m of territory just from trying to put the speedsters down.
"They seem to be building a good thing with Fraser at the back that comes from game time," Richardson said.
With five wins on the trot, he still wanted to see the back of "the silly little things" come out of their play, and Border certainly were guilty of lacking a killer thrust for most of the second half. Nonetheless, his South Taranaki men had matters well in hand. "It was great to snaffle that bonus point in the last minute."
Kaierau co-coach Anton Edwards made it clear he would be unlikely to be accommodating of a night fixture up there again.
He was disappointed his team had not started with the proper respect for the night conditions of dew and cool air, with the second half being a fairer reflection between both team's standards. "We gave them three tries on stupid mistakes," Edwards said.
Not helping matters was captain Chris Harris's comeback being cut short as he came limping off after a tackle, although this gave further opportunity for lock Sam Lane to step up a noteworthy player in Premier as he is completely deaf. "It's great he got this chance, although it's hard to be communicative with him," said Edwards.
If Kaierau had the scientific technology to play themselves in a game, they would see first hand just how those crucial mistakes, when either under pressure or hot on attack, were costing them so dearly. "They've got in the habit where they have to chase games," said Edwards.
"We just panic a wee bit with the ball."
That assessment was painfully evident in the opening exchanges as a Kaierau fumble was toed through and trapped the visitors in-goal. Border first-five Mark Davis went for a dart and found centre Karl Priddle, who powered over after only four minutes. Kaierau regrouped as fullback Rhys Wylie split the line but the final pass went begging as a further dropped ball showed it would be one of those nights. Winger Stu Brosnahan still took his chance with an outstanding run, slipping through four tackles to force the ball down in the corner and tie the scores. But from there Kaierau lurched from one disaster to another first halfback Josh Edwards couldn't hang onto the pill at the scrum, leading to his opposite Lindsay Horrocks diving across two phases later.
Then Brosnahan went from hero to villain when a straight drop ended up in Vadiga's hands, who nearly took the wrong option but when brought down, still found second-five Andy Hamilton looming outside him to score. After an average night with the boot, Davis added a penalty from a long attempt in the shadow of half-time. Wylie replied with a three-pointer just after the resumption following a good burst by second-five Ace Malo.
Davis replied with another good penalty kick as he, Horrocks, and Middleton looked to trap Kaierau with chip kicks and bombs.
Playing without territory, Kaierau's Malo, Brosnahan, first-five Areta Lama and centre Jordan Farrington tried to manufacture opportunities from the deep, while reserve forward Robbie Lavin injected some surging bursts.
But it all proved to be for naught as Border worked their way to the line on the back of more fumbles for Naoiso to score in the corner after good build-up by the forward pack.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield:
Waverley Harvesting Border 28 (Andy Hamilton, Karl Priddle, Lindsay Horrocks, Sailosi Naoiso tries, Mark Davis 2 pen, con) beat Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 8 (Stuart Brosnahan try, Rhys Wylie pen). HT: 20-5.
