Border hit the ground running

Border's Nick Harding got straight back into points-scoring mode with three tries and five conversions against Ratana on Saturday.

They started like a rock band slightly out of tune, but when they found their rhythm the Waverley Harvesting Border backline showed they can still play some beautiful music after hammering Harvey Round Motors Ratana 65-7 at Dallison Park on Saturday.

Fielding a new-look forward pack, which includes some promising young players coming into the side, the defending champions had their seven seasoned backs in almost identical positions to where they won the 2016 Tasman Tanning Premier title, and the familiarity showed when they put the ball through the hands.

Meanwhile, 2016's wooden-spooners Ratana have also been bolstered by the return of several players they gifted to last year's experimental Wanganui Metro side, and while the squad has full numbers, they haven't got a grasp on how they want to move forward as a playing group yet.

An 11-try blowout does mask their moments of keen effort, as it does Border's own handling errors, but Ratana simply lacked punch and often immediately turned over ball they had worked so hard to regain.

Border's 2016 record holders were back into their work as the leading tryscoring centre Kaveni Dabenaise glided into gaps with the ball in the one hand, eventually getting a double from close range, while top points scorer fullback Nick Harding turned on the gas to get the game's final two tries for his hat-trick - although coming straight from the cricket pitch he was somewhat wayward with his conversions in the tricky wind.

Halfback Lindsay Horrocks also picked up a double as he looked to give his Steelform Wanganui understudy and Ratana captain Kane Tamou a reminder about who is top dog at No9.

Able to take plenty of notes was new Border coach Justin Lock.

"We haven't had any preseason games and we've had seven trainings," he said.

"It's there - it's just got to function a bit better."

Others to catch the eye were new lock Chris Breuer - fresh out of the Wanganui High School 1st XV and looking strong until taking a second knock to the head and being ordered to the sideline by match officials - along with busy flanker Angus Middleton joining captain Fraser in the squad, and No8 Hayden Caskey, the nephew of Wanganui coach Jason.

Lock said other Wanganui representatives will be back soon as loose forward Ranato Tikoilosomone cleared his work visa for this coming weekend, while prop Tietie Tuimauga should return by next month.

Pick of the Ratana team were hooker Keanu Puki-Kaa putting in a full 80 minute effort, while flanker Hoani Ririnui did his best on defence and centre Alan Penetito scored a popular try amongst the travelling supporters and a sympathetic Border crowd.

Border 65 (N Harding 3, L Horrocks 2, K Dabenaise 2, H Mellow, G Tihema, J Forsyth, I Hooper tries; Harding 5 con) bt Ratana 7 (A Penetito try; A Paranihi con). HT: 29-0.