A champion schoolboy runner, Harry Symes turned on the pace to score two tries for Border against Ruapehu.
Their hands were slippery and they had forgotten much of their structure, but Waverley Harvesting Border had not forgotten how to run.
The Tasman Tanning Premier leaders finally wrenched the gear stick up into fifth during the final quarter against an understrength but committed McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu - scoring three tries inside the last ten minutes to blow out to a 36-12 victory on Saturday.
Chasing the game after conceeding the first two tries in muddy conditions, Border started to get the better of territory but would drop the ball at crucial times, playing into the hands of Ruapehu's veterans in the pack who could control the pace of the game with some grinding play and strong tackling.
With Peter Rowe on his way north to join the NZ Barbarians, the loose forward trio of Andrew Evans, Jamie Hughes and Campbell Hart stepped up, with Hart also being key in the lineout, spoiling the home side's momentum and ability to string together multiple phases.
As Border's injured flankers watched frustrated from the sideline, Border would end the first half with multiple penalties inside Ruapehu's 22m and put the ball into the corner, only to be denied every time.
However, in the physical clash, eventually Ruapehu's key men had to be subbed and Border will able to call upon their greater depth on the bench.
As Ruapehu struggled to keep getting coverage going wide, the speedsters in the Border backline finally clicked.
Former schoolboy running champion Harry Symes came on and made the breakthrough in the 65th minute when he got toe on a fumbled chip kick in Ruapehu's 22m and won the race to the line, and was then on the end of Border's first really well executed backline spread as dangermen Kaveni Dabenaise and fullback Nick Harding linked the chain together.
Border's key forwards Cole Baldwin, Ranato Tikoisolomone and Chris Breuer got a second wind, while veteran Ray Stark gutted out his sore ribs to come on and lift the intensity in the midfield.
Grayson Tihema moved from the wing to first-five and forgot his first half fumbles to connect nicely with Harding coming into the backline.
Coach Justin Lock praised Symes, fellow speedster Isaiah Graham-Hooper, and the veterans Stark and Clint Skedgwell for maintaining the quality, and even improving, from those in the starting XV.
"They all brought something.
"It's going to be the best squad at the end of the year that wins a title."
The early errors had played right into Ruapehu's wheelhouse, as once again Border had to come from behind to get the victory.
"Even through the first half there was little things we done wrong," said Lock.
"That probably allowed the game to slow down, and we thrive on fast ball.
"[Ruapehu] have big strong men, go forward ball is hard. They don't let you play rugby."
Facing a tough row to hoe with the other playoff contenders getting wins this weekend, Ruapehu coach Daisy Alabaster was now setting his sights on the return of his injured playmakers within a fortnight and the upcoming home game with Harvey Round Motors Ratana.
"Top 4 is all we can ask for.
"[Border] deserved their win.
"You can't play rugby in your own half, which is what we ended up doing."
Ruapehu had early chances and took them - after a missed penalty they stayed on attack and Hughes ducked through the Border defensive line, and from the tryline ruck first-five Shaq Waara stepped down the left side to score.
Border cost themselves on attack with loose passes which the receiver couldn't grasp, or good passes that simply went down.
Ruapehu hooker Roman Tutauha busted through and the ball was transferred wide to winger Matthew Clarke, who was stopped at the corner, then his side showed good composure to control the ball as Evans had a crack at the line, before Hughes burrowed his way over for 12-0.
Border continued to squander their opportunities until Fijian test lock Sekonaia Kalou just did it himself, slipping a tackle and dashing down the far touchline to score in the corner in the 31st minute.
Harding adding a good 45m penalty not long after resumption, then pushed another attempt wide as Ruapehu were now struggling to clear their half with shallow kicks.
Winger Tom Symes collected one such kick and threw the long pass to his whanau in Harry, with Ruapehu struggling to chase them, as the kick was put through and Harry Symes motored up to hack it to the tryline for 15-12.
The floodgates opened with nine minutes left as Dabenaise got outside his man and flicked a round-the-corner pass to Harding, who put Harry Symes into the corner.
Stark, Breuer, and Graham-Hooper charged up the centre and Ruapehu were tired from holding them back, with Tihema taking on the line and offloading for Harding to cross.
Border still weren't done as Harding stabbed through another kick and Graham-Hooper had no-one near him as he collected it in the corner, with Harding converting from the sideline on fulltime.
Border 36 (H Symes 2, S Kalou, N Harding, I Graham-Hooper tries; Harding pen, 4 con) bt Ruapehu 12 (S Waara, J Hughes tries; C Pene con). HT: 12-5 Ruapehu.