Marist at top after convincing win

DERBY RUGBY: Marist's Sam Monaghan runs into score with Pirates fullback Sava Takavesi too late to stop him at Spriggens Park on Saturday. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER

THE TIMES, they are a-changing in the Tasman Tanning Premier competition as Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist signalled early intent for 2016 with a 34-0 hammering of defending champions Black Bull Liquor Pirates at the Spriggens Park derby on Saturday.

Pirates coach Phillip Morris has spoken previously about his concern over a possible third-year mental malaise, having experienced a similar slump in the season after guiding Kaierau to back-to-back premier titles.

Form and conditioning in pre-season could comfortably be described as scratchy for the defending champions, while Marist acquiring veteran playmaker Steelie Koro has only strengthened a team with some good overall young talent.

This was on show at Spriggens Park as Marist scored two tries in each half, with first-five Sam Monaghan picking up a 19-point haul as one of the tryscorers and the goalkicker.

Flanker Ryan Gill was back and in the form he showed for Marist during the 2014 competition, while prop Viki Tofa was strong against the Pirates pack. With their healthy points differential, Marist moved to the top of the table, just ahead of Utiku Old Boys, who got their campaign off to a satisfying start under new coach Matt Gilbert, beating Harvey Round Motors Ratana 43-12 at Memorial Park.

The closest game of the round was PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape having to come from behind to beat an invigorated Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 40-28 at the Country Club.

Taihape scored six tries to four, with veteran first-five Tom Wells and centre Jaye Flaws both getting doubles.

The home team led at halftime and extended their advantage before being run down by the composed visitors, although there will be positives to take away for the coaching team of Dennis Edwards and assistant Darren Munro.

For those who have inquired on the sidelines, the Whanganui club rugby competition is still using the standard bonus points allocation of scoring four tries and/or losing by seven or less.

The Senior competition got off to a slightly troubling start as both Taihape and Ratana defaulted their away games to Kaierau and Utiku Old Boys respectively.

But the most ominous result was in Hunterville, as the flash Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri team with their host of acquired Steelform Wanganui players easily snatched the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield from the perennial powerhouses Kelso Hunterville, 33-13.

Ngamatapouri may never surrender the Shield this season, having led Hunterville 26-3 at halftime, although the second stanza was more competitive.

Marist Celtic sit top of the table on a miserable day for the Pirates club as they were butchered 88-0 at Spriggens Park, with Celtic having raised the half century by halftime. Defending champions Ruapehu, with a reasonably new-look outfit, held on 17-12 over Border at Dallison Park, while Speirs Food Marton began what looks to be a promising campaign for them, comfortably disposing of Marist Buffalo's 51-7 at Marton Park.

-Results, April 2.

Tasman Tanning Premier, Round 1.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 34 (Sam Monaghan, Dave Chadwick, Scott Dowman, Josaia Bogileka tries, Monaghan 2 pen, 4 con) bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 0. HT: 17-0.

PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 40 (Tom Wells 2, Jaye Flaws 2, Sefo Bourke, Rimu Wipaki tries, Dane Whale 5 con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 28 (Stu Brosnahan, Kapeli Kuruyabaki, Carl Pascoe, Ace Malo tries, Malo 2 pen, con). HT:18-12 Kaierau.

Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Waverley Harvesting Border 47 (Dylan Pearce, Cole Baldwin, Kieran Hussey, Isiaiha Hooper, Nick Harding, Keveni Debonaise tries, Harding 3 pen, 4 con) bt McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu 17 (Corey Carmichael, Campbell Hart tries, Andrew Evans pen, George Williams 2 con). HT: 25-3.

Utiku OB 43 (Jamie Brett 2, Emori Lodoviko 2, Brett Illston, Rewi Hudson tries, Henry Hives pen, 3 con, Callum Crellin 2 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 12 (Te Oranga Whareaitu and Te Tua Kemp tries, Kemp con). HT: 17-5.

Grand Irish Bar MVP Points

At Spriggens Park: Ryan Gill (Marist flanker) 3 points, Sam Monaghan (Marist first five) 2, Viki Tofa (Marist prop) 1.

At Kaierau Country Club: Hamish Bennett (Taihape lock) 3, Fiatau Faalili (Kaierau No 8), Tremaine Gilbert (Taihape No 8) and Kameli Kuruyabaki (Kaierau centre) 1 each.

At Waverley: Nick Harding (Border fullback) 3, William Short (Ruapehu halfback) 2, Paul Forsyth (Border prop)1.

At Taihape: Brett Illston (Utiku OB second five) 3, Jamie Brett (Utiku OB flanker) 2, Junior Tume (Ratana hooker)1.

Senior Championship, Round 1.

At Spriggens Park: Marist Celtic 88 bt Pirates 88-0. HT: 52-0.

At Hunterville (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri bt Kelso Hunterville 33-13. HT: 26-3.

At Dallison Park: Ruapehu bt Border 17-12. HT: 12-0.

At Marton Park: Speirs Food Marton bt Marist Buffalo's 51-7. HT: 20-7.

At Kaierau Country Club: Kaierau beat Taihape by default.

At Memorial Park: Utiku OB beat Ratana by default.

Bye: Counties.