Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist can play with the big boys, but they've got a bit to learn before school's out after going down to Waverley Harvesting Border 26-17 in the Friday night clash at Dallison Park.
Having closed in on their hosts with two smartly taken tries under the posts in the first half, Marist had to play the second stanza without pivotal second-five Steelie Koro, who aggravated his previous leg injury and was saved as a precautionary measure.
As a result, Marist became too one-dimensional with one-man surges of the ruck and little variation elsewhere, which can still work if you wear the opposition down enough to eventually break through.
But Border are experienced campaigners under lights and although they earned referee Ben Lourie's ire with quite a few infringements, their defence held strong with some hard tackling in the final quarter.
The Waverley team's tactical nous for night rugby is not so much that they innovate on attack, but they swarm immediately on their opposition's mistakes and that was a decisive factor in all three of their tries.
Marist need to have a rethink on how they react in pressure moments.
A kickable penalty to take the lead not long after halftime was turned down for a lineout, where the ball was promptly lost, and Border immediately got back to halfway for their own penalty and fullback Nick Harding obliged for 18-14.
Some risky cut-out passes to winger Simon Dibben with the tryline in sight left him isolated momentarily and when Border's outside backs forced the turnover, winger Isaiah Hooper was gone in a flash and ran 80m for what proved the matchwinner.
There were not many opportunities for either side's speedy islanders in Border's Kaveni Dabenaise and Marist's Simeli Konifredi to cut loose, while opposing wingers Cameron Crowley and Tom Symes had an entertaining duel with sideline runs and pressuring the high kicks.
As expected, Marist flanker Ryan Gill worked himself into the ground for the entire match, while prop Viki Tofa often turned playmaker trying to find a way through.
Border's pack in hooker Dylan Pearce, tryscoring prop Lance Devane and No8 Jack Alabaster got stuck into the tough stuff.
Now two thirds of the way through a tough run of playing their fellow Top 4 teams, Border coach Ross Williams saw just how much the team misses their key loose forwards like Ray Stark and Kieran Hussey.
"Far from impressed with the first half, especially defensively. Proud of the way we came back.
"We're not playing anywhere near where we can. It's really on the leaders to make sure we can put in performances we can be proud of."
Marist coach Jason Hamlin said he would have risked Koro's injury if it were a playoff game.
Although not unhappy with the side's effort, he just hopes they condition their minds as well as their bodies so they can store up the knowledge gained from Friday's mistakes for the games down the line.
"It's a little bit of a worry. Little bit directionless, and predictable.
"That was three dropped balls in own 22m, it led to tries. It's a sign of a good side, [when Border] can get up to do that.
"I'm trying not to over-coach from the sidelines. One will lead to another."
Marist won early territory advantage in the game of human chess - Koro testing Harding with a cross-field grubber, which the fullback stopped and fed Hooper for an early breakout attempt, leading to a penalty and 3-0 to the home team.
Border captain Fraser Middleton's injury was tested by some hard Marist tackling, but he responded in kind, then a Marist fumble was spun out to Symes who beat the cover defence to the corner.
Harding was away with the conversion on what would be an off night for his goal kicking, but Border were able to clear their territory every time Marist got momentum through pouncing on errors.
Marist first-five Sam Monaghan missed a penalty, but then cut through near halfway to bring Marist right down to the line, and after prop Manu Herring, Konifredi, Dibben, and Gill all had a crack, Border hung off Koro for just a second and that was all he needed to pivot back and go under the posts.
A Harding kick for Symes' wing ended in a corner lineout and when Marist lost the ball, Border set the maul and Devane powered his way over for 15-7.
A long run by Crowley brought Marist back into Border's danger zone, where they held the ball and after Tofa went at the line halfback Rory Gudsell dived through another gap left by the ruck to close within a point.
Harding missed penalties either side of the break, but without Koro the visitors looked less threatening, resorting to crash and bash tactics.
After a high tackle penalty, Harding landed an excellent kick from 49m out to give his team a much needed boost.
Not long after, Hooper snatched the loose ball and was gone down the tramlines to make Marist's task very difficult at 23-14.
Both teams traded missed penalties, before Monaghan closed the gap entering the final five minutes, but an error at the kickoff led to a scrum and then another penalty with Harding re-establishing the nine-point buffer.
The hosts tried a risky play right on fulltime from their 22m in search of a bonus point, which Marist grabbed and drove over the line, yet Lourie ruled the ball was lost.
Waverley Harvesting Border 26 (Tom Symes, Lance Devane, Isaiah Hooper tries; Nick Harding 3 pen, con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 17 (Steelie Koro, Rory Gudsell tries, Sam Monaghan pen, 2 con). HT: 15-14.