DOUBLE ACT: Pirates' Brett Turner going over for one of his two tries at the Kaierau Country Club.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 040615WCSMRUGBY3
WRFU club liaison officer Paul Kenny praised the Ruapehu club for taking disciplinary measures against their senior player who abused a non-ticketed referee in the June 27 loss to Speirs Food Marton.
However, another probe is under way at the Border club after a spectator allegedly put his hands on an Integrity Motors Pirates player at the Tasman Tanning Premier match in Waverley on the same day.
Ruapehu club captain Steve McDougall said the player, who had not been named publicly, has been stood down for the rest of 2015.
"The situation was not ideal given we didn't have an official ref," he said. "Club and committee have handled the matter and suspended him for the rest of the season."
Kenny said their stance had been supported by the WRFU.
"We're happy Ruapehu handled it in house, and they did a good job with it."
Kenny said the WRFU had evidence of the Border supporter incident and there had been letters exchanged between club and union. "It's being fully assessed. A spectator shouldn't touch a player."
On the field, McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu are now safe in the Top 4 of the Tasman Tanning Premier competition after their horror start to the year, with Saturday's 33-5 win over Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist at the Wanganui Racecourse field lifting them well clear of Utiku Old Boys on the table.
Premier rugby should return to Spriggens Park this coming Saturday after the clean-up from the wet weather, but Ruapehu had no problems on the alternate ground, scoring five tries including a double to flanker Fraser Hammond.
If no Premier team wants to play Pirates after a loss, meeting them after two straight defeats is a worse prospect and Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau copped the backlash as their team with it's young forward pack was smashed 74-19 in front of disappointed spectators at the Country Club.
Winger Clive Stowers, midfielder Patrick Hiscox and prop Brett Turner all scored doubles as Pirates bagged 45 points in the second half.
At Memorial Park, PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape remained competition leaders but they did not have it all their own way in the 29-10 win over bottom of the table Harvey Round Motors Ratana.
Ratana broke the scoreless deadlock with a try right on halftime as Taihape struggled for traction, while their winger Paora McCarthy was lifted into an ambulance after being knocked out.
McCarthy would return to watch the remainder of the game as Taihape's loose forwards Timi Teepa and Tremaine Gilbert sparked their revival, scoring five tries to one in reply as Ratana ran out of legs.
In Senior rugby, Kelso Hunterville hung on to the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield after they came from behind to squeeze past Marton 19-15, also denying the visitors their chance to stay in striking distance of the Top 4.
Marist Celtic retained fourth spot but were beaten comforably by Ruapehu 46-14, while Ngamatapouri fought out a very close 22-20 win over Tech at McNab Domain in their first proper meeting this season after Tech elected not to play in April on the wet Waitotara Valley field.
In the consolation grade, Sealswinslow Pirates continued their march towards the crown with a 22-13 win over Kaierau.
At the racecourse, the Marist Buffalos vs Counties game was abandoned due to a serious injury to a player, who was kept on the pitch for safety reasons.
"It was a leg injury, the ambulance had to come on to the field," said Kenny.
"They were wise not to move him. Precaution prevailed."
Counties were leading 8-5 at the time, but it is likely the game will be kept as a draw.
Results, July 4
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 12.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu 33 (Fraser Hammond 2, Troy Brown, Tautahi Rawiri, Corey Carmichael tries, Zyon Hekenui 2 pen, con) Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 5 (Bronson Tumai try). HT: 16-0.
Integrity Motors Pirates 74 (Clive Stowers 2, Patrick Hiscox 2, Brett Turner 2, Etuati Emana, Matt Davis, Ricky Boniface, Lasa Ulukuta, Matiu Tarogi, Faalafi Vave tries, Denning Tyrell 5 con, Manulua Lafi 2 con) Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 19 (Taylor Kirkwood, Stu Brosnahan, Hoani Pahl-Long tries, Stephen Perofeta 2 con). HT: 29-19.
PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape 29 (Jonty Lievre, Taylor Transom, Jeremy Gilbert, Tremaine Gilbert, Cyrus Paringatai tries, Transom 2 con) Harvey Round Motors Ratana 10 (Kameka Manuel, Caleb Maraku tries). HT: 5-0 Ratana.
At Memorial Park No2, Taihape - Waverley Harvesting Border 66 (Poasa Waqanibau 4, Anaru Haerewa 2, Renato Tikoilosolomone, James Forsyth, Andrew Retallick, Kieran Hussey tries, Sikeli Ulukuta 6 con, Jack Lupton 2 con) Utiku OB 28 (Richard Minty, Michael Nabuliwaqa, Matt Crawford, Mark Logan tries, Ricky Alabaster 4 con). HT: 31-14.
Grand Irish Bar MVP Points
At Racecourse: Fraser Hammond (Ruapehu flanker) 3 points, Corey Carmichael (Ruapehu winger) 2, Tom Nepia (Marist prop) 1.
At Kaierau C.C: Clive Stowers (Pirates winger) 3, Denning Tyrell (Pirates first five) 2, Tolou Moala (Pirates prop) 1.
At Taihape No1: Timi Teepa (Taihape flanker) 3, Cyrus Paringatai (Taihape centre) 2, Mikaere Penetito (Ratana flanker) 1.
At Taihape No2: Poasa Waqanibau (Border centre) 3, Kieran Hussey (Border No 8) 2, Malakai Volou (Utiku OB No 8) 1.
MVP Standings: Kieran Hussey (Border) 14, Denning Tyrell (Pirates) 12, Clive Stowers (Pirates) and Michael Nabuliwaqa (Utiku OB) 9, Sam Stewart (Marist) 8, Timi Teepa (Taihape) and Troy Brown (Ruapehu) 7, S'aena Vili (Pirates), Peter Rowe, Zyon Hekenui and Roman Tutauha (Ruapehu) 6, Ace Malo (Kaierau), Jack Lupton and Poasa Waqanibau (Border), Lasa Ulukuta (Pirates), Jamie Hughes (Ratana), Andrew Evans (Ruapehu), Malakai Volou (Utiku OB) and Johnson Hiroa (Taihape) 5.
Senior, Week 15
Championship
At Wanganui Racecourse: Ruapehu bt Marist Celtic 46-14. HT: 17-7.
At McNab Domain, Kaiwhaiki: Ngamatapouri bt Tech 22-20. HT: 15-10 Tech.
At Hunterville (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Kelso Hunterville bt Speirs Food Marton 19-15. HT: 15-10 Marton.
Consolation
At Wanganui Racecourse: Marist Buffalos v Counties abandoned (serious player injury). HT: 8-5 Counties.
At Kaierau C.C: Sealswinslow Pirates bt Kaierau 22-13. HT: 17-3.
At Taihape No1: Taihape bt Ratana 41-7. HT: 32-7.
At Taihape No2: Border bt Utiku OB 26-5. HT: 12-0.