A lot can happen in a little over two months.
Leading into Week 7 of the Premier competition on May 11, Taihape were emerging as the first real threat to Ruapehu when they hosted them at Memorial Park, Utiku Old Boys had just earned victory number one for 2013 as they lined up to play an unbalanced Pirates, and with only one win plus a mauling from Ruapehu, the Marist team was starting to get that sinking feeling for their season.
With three games left in round robin competition we can see just how much some of those fortunes have swung.
Taihape have spluttered into the Round 2 with just one win and a draw to show from five games and frustrations came to a boiling point last Saturday in their fourth stalemate against Marist at home, which has left them two men short for their trip to Ohakune tomorrow.
After a brawl late in the match that grew to include players on the reserve bench, the WRFU has imposed two week stand downs on Timi Tepaa and Dylan Maloney.
Club liaison officer JB Phillips said there were three yellow cards in the game, but the two players had to be sanctioned for further inflaming the situation by getting involved when they were on the sidelines.
"They shouldn't have been on the field."
Meanwhile Pirates, galvanised at the prospect of July/August rugby, have spent the last two weeks making up for lacklustre Round One efforts against the minnows, while Marist with two wins and a draw this round are now a picture of optimism.
"We could have just easily folded away and got rolled every weekend, and that's only happened once and, to be frank, that's against the team doing it to everyone [Ruapehu]," said Marist co-coach Jason Hamlin, who came in at an inevitable time with the surprise resignation of Greg Proctor in late May.
While hooker Ross Pui is injured for tomorrow's clash with Kaierau at Spriggens Park, Hamlin tipped his hat to the consistent efforts from utility back Sean Brown and grafting flanker Bradley Graham, bringing a bit of pride back to the team.
"They've really stood up for us in the last couple of weeks, since making the representative side. We'd be well off the pace without them.
"I actually asked Brad if he wanted a rest [after Wanganui's midweek game]. He just said 'nah, keep putting me out there'."
It remains to be seen if Marist can reverse their 38-24 loss at the Country Club in May.
Around the district, Pirates head to Taihape to perhaps square another ledger with Utiku.
The Old Boys coach, Gavin Thompson, made it quite clear he thought his boys were the better side when Utiku all but caused the boilover of the year at Spriggens Park in May Pirates needing 14 points in the last eight minutes to get out of jail 24-22.
Taihape will have to pick themselves up in Ohakune because Ruapehu will never give an opponent any slack, while Ruapehu's opponents next week, Border, will want a solid hit out when they travel to play Marton.