Amongst this pile of players, Pirates flanker Faalafi Vave claims his try in the clash against Kaierau at the Country Club on Saturday. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER
Both Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau and a rebounding Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist were able to consolidate their spots in the Tasman Tanning Premier top four with important victories on Saturday afternoon.
Marist picked up their first victory in five seasons over McCarthy Transport Ruapehu, 35-21 at Spriggens Park, as they welcomed back some key men from seasons past.
After Marist dropped their last two games while the understrength Ruapehu seemed to be back on the rise after the return of representative players helped them to a win at home with Utiku Old Boys the previous week, the result surprised.
But with winger Cameron Crowley and utility back Sean Brown back in the picture, with second-five Steelie Koro returning from injury, Marist had fortified their backline and scored five tries to two, with first-five Sam Monaghan converting the lot and picking up a double.
Over at the Country Club, Kaierau figured their time was now against a wounded Black Bull Liquor Pirates outfit and despite trailing at halftime, four tries in the second half pulled them to a 29-22 win, with Pirates hitting back right on fulltime.
Former 2014 Pirate Kameli Kuruyabaki grabbed a hat-trick against his old club in an MVP performance, while hooker Joe Edwards also joined the tryscorers sheet.
And Kaierau men of the past - loose forwards Faalafi Vave and Lasa Ulukuta - were the tryscorers for Pirates.
Halfway through the first round, Marist have leapfrogged Pirates and Utiku into fourth spot, while Kaierau will be very happy with how they're tracking to be clear third overall with a lot of the champion teams of the past playing catchup.
One squad that haven't lost a step are Waverley Harvesting Border, who were in fearsome mood at Dallison Park, slaughtering Harvey Round Motors Ratana 95-3 in their Grand Hotel Challenge Shield defence. Up 52-3 at halftime, Border nearly raised the first century in Premier rugby for several years, with the outside backs running riot as dangerous centre Kavenui Dabenaise scored four tries, fullback Nick Harding got a hat-trick as part of a 31-point haul, and winger Tom Symes bagged a double.
In total, 15 tries were scored and 10 converted in the massacre. It is clear next weekend's huge clash at Memorial Park will set the tempo for the next couple of months as Border travel to meet the likewise unbeaten PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape.
Both squads are strong in the same areas with smartly operating backlines, mobile forward packs, lineout pressure, superior conditioning and overall team continuity.
In the senior competition, Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri were finally challenged at Marton Park as the Speirs Food Marton team closed a 17-point halftime gap before losing 40-32 in the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield game.
The most interesting result was Kelso Hunterville finally rebounding after their rough start in this rebuilding season to pick up a 30-12 home win over Counties - impressive especially considering Counties had upset Marton the week before.
Kaierau and Marist Celtic retained first and second on the table with wins over Pirates (31-18) and Ruapehu (42-10) respectively, while Taihape had to work hard in the derby game with Utiku Old Boys before emerging with a 27-15 win.
With Ratana currently withdrawn from the Senior grade, there are now two teams sitting out every week with byes.
Results, April 23.
Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 4.
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 35 (Sam Monaghan 2, Sean Brown, Aiden FitzGerald, Cameron Crowley tries, Monaghan 5 con) bt McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 21 (Shaquille McDonnell, Campbell Hart tries, Andrew Evans 3 pen, con). HT: 14-11.
Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 29 (Kameli Kuruyabaki 3, Joe Edwards, Matt Ashworth tries, Ace Malo 2 con) bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 22 (Faalafi Vave, Lasa Ulukuta, Matt Thompson tries, Manulua Lafi pen, con, Denning Tyrell con). HT: 10-5 Pirates.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Waverley Harvesting Border 95 (Kavenui Dabenaise 4, Nick Harding 3, Tom Symes 2, Dylan Pearce, Matt Koubaridis, Kieran Hussey, Isaiah Hooper, Fraser Middleton, Tyrone Albert tries, Harding 8 con, Albert con, James Forsythe con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 3 (Te Tua Kemp pen). HT: 52-3.
PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 40 (Taylor Transom 2, Cyrus Paringatai 2, Tom Wells, Jaye Flaws, Dane Whale 2 pen, 2 con) bt Utiku OB 8 (Jamie Brett try, Willie Hands pen). HT: 20-3.
Grand Irish Bar MVP Points:
At Spriggens Park: Steelie Koro (Marist second five) 3 points, Richard Graham (Marist No8) 2, Campbell Hart (Ruapehu No8) 1.
At Kaierau CC: Kameli Kuruyabaki (Kaierau centre) 3, Ace Malo (Kaierau second five), Joe Edwards (Kaierau hooker), Faalafi Vave (Pirates flanker) 1 each.
At Dallison Park: Nick Harding (Border fullback) 3, Hamish Mellow (Border prop), Fraser Middleton (Border second five) and Kavenui Dabenaise (Border centre) 1 each.
At Memorial Park: Taylor Transom (Taihape winger) 3, Cyrus Paringatai (Taihape centre), Hadlee Hay-Horton (Taihape prop) and Hepa Payne (Utiku OB halfback) 1 each.
MVP Points Leaders: Nick Harding (Border) 9, Ace Malo (Kaierau) 7, Taylor Transom (Taihape) and Kameli Kuruyabaki (Kaierau) 5, Kavenui Dabenaise (Border), Ryan Gill (Marist), Clive Stowers (Pirates) and Jamie Brett (Utiku O B) 4 each.
Senior Championship, Round 4:
At Spriggens Park: Celtic 42 bt Ruapehu 42-10. HT: 21-5.
At Kaierau CC: Kaierau 31 (1) bt Pirates 18. HT: 26-8.
At Marton Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri bt Speirs Food Marton 40-32. HT: 27-10.
At Hunterville: Kelso Hunterville bt Counties 30-12. HT: 13-0.
At Taihape: Taihape bt Utiku OB 27-15. HT: 10-all.
Byes: Border and Buffalos.