Marist suffers biggest loss in its long history

RUGBY: Marist coach Andy Transom paid tribute to unbeaten Kaierau after his side suffered a record 100-8 hiding in Wanganui senior club rugby at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Kaierau ran in 16 tries to hand out Marist's heaviest senior defeat in its 88-year history.
"We were well and truly outplayed. Kaierau is very fit, they have all-round support and are very good going forward. "There is always someone there to take the ball when they throw their 50-50 passes. They are very hard to contain which the scoreboard indicated."
Second-placed Ruapehu scored seven tries in a 41-0 away win over Marton, Ratana scored nine times in a 60-12 home victory over Taihape and Pirates kept alive semi-final hopes with a 31-6 win over Utiku OB at Spriggens Park.
Although Kaierau and Ruapehu are assured of home semi-finals, three sides ? Marist (26.5), Ratana (25.5) and Pirates (25) ? are chasing the other two places. Ruapehu host Kaierau next Saturday, Pirates will be home to Marton while both Marist (against Taihape) and Ratana (versus Utiku OB) travel to Taihape.
At Spriggens Park: Kaierau 100 (Fillifilli Samuellu 4, Dion Hyland 3, Asalemo Malo 2, Pati Fetuiai 2, Denning Tyrell 2, Ateria Ateria 2, Sam Mifileo tries, Malo 5 con, Tupae Pati 5 con), Marist 8 (John Bartley try, Steelie Koro pen). HT: 57-8.
As expected Kaierau had too much class ? possession, speed and skill ? for third-placed Marist with the 16th try, which came in the last minute of play, hoisting the side's second century score of the season.
Kaierau has now scored 854 points including 135 tries in 12 games this season and also beat Taihape by default.
Marist struggled throughout with tries coming thick and fast at times highlighted by four from pacy lock Fillifilli Samuellu and three by winger Dion Hyland.
With a feast of ball to play with there was the odd mistake in the flood of Kaierau raids but the backs delighted the crowd with 11 tries and thanks to Samuellu's effort the forwards added five tries.
Faced with rampant opposition the Marist defence was paper-thin at times.
It almost appeared the side was thinking ahead to next Saturday's vital away game against Taihape, when a win is needed to claim a semi-final start, than risking injuries in tackling Kaierau players.
Samuellu, flanker Darren Munro, No 8 Semisi Taulava plus props Sam Mifileo and Aisea Vaivela all played well for Kaierau.
Halfback and general Denning Tyrell, second five Pati Fetuiai, wingers Hyland and Ateria Ateria and fullback Asalemo Malo, who finished with 20 points, were in sharp form in a classy backline.
Pick of a well beaten Marist side were Peina, first five Steelie Koro, No 8 Hunter Evans and prop Nathan Easton.
At Spriggens Park: Pirates 31 (Reina Campbell, Cole Baldwin, Naka Rusala, Bjorn Barlien, Graham Calder tries, John Guthrie 3 con), Utiku OB 6 (Shayne Kavangh 2 pen). HT: 19-3.
Pirates coach Willie Thompson said his side played to instructions in scoring a comfortable if not spectacular win over Utiku in the late game at Spriggens Park.
"I am pleased we met our target of victory plus a bonus point (four tries).
"It took a while to manage the fourth try against an Utiku side that refused to give in but the players maintained their composure and were rewarded."
Despite collecting five points and looking set to repeat the effort against Marton next Saturday Pirates are now reliant on both Taihape and Utiku upsetting or containing Marist and Ratana to reach the play-offs.
There was little between the Pirates and Utiku forward packs with Utiku strong in the scrums until the arrival of prop Mike Thompson.
Hooker Brett Turner, lock Mike Fitzgerald and No 8 Cole Baldwin, who scored a fine charge down try, were prominent for Pirates.
Utiku's top players were No 8 J J Walker, lock Matt Gilbert, prop Lance Devane, first five Jaco Barendse and fullback Hepa Kereti.
Utiku played better than the 25 point margin indicated.
At Ratana: Ratana 60 (Corey Pardoe 2, Charlie Mete 2, Mark Edwards. Junior Apairima, Richard Ropata, Leon Mason, Levi Mason tries, Leon Mason pen, six con), Taihape 12 (Peter Rowe, Moko Kopua tries, Ricky Alabaster con). HT: 41-0.
Taihape arrived at Ratana with only 14 players because two members of the team did not turn up for the bus.
As a result coach Kereti Maniapoto played a full game in the front row and assistant coach Victor Chase played the second half on the wing.
An annoyed Maniapoto said: "We were not going to default two weeks in a row and the coaching staff had to play. It is not fair that players let us down by not turning up." Ratana, ahead 41-0 at half-time, was too strong, running in nine tries with first five Leon Mason finishing with 20 points.
Taihape performed better in the second spell, containing Ratana to 19-12.
Lock Cole Paki, flanker Charlie Mete, Leon Mason, centre Mark Edwards and winger Corey Pardoe were Ratana's best players.
Flankers Peter Rowe and Mark Logan, No 8 Shaun Barnes, first five Eugene Hekenui and second Moko Kopua went well for Taihape.
At Marton Park: Ruapehu 41 (Kanin Clancy 2, Daniel Rolls 2, David Gower, Germaine Ormsby, Clay Winter tries, Chris Winter 3 con), Marton 0. HT: 36-0.
Despite an improved second spell effort Marton was held scoreless for only the second time this season.
Marton, which lost 86-5 in the first round, conceded a single try in the second half.
Ruapehu, however, had complete control with a 36-0 half-time lead, backs Daniel Rolls and Kanin Clancy each scoring two tries.
In the end it was an easy win for the Northern Wanganui champions.
Locks Nick Cranston and Todd Wise, hooker Jonathan Maxwell, fullback Clay Winter and halfback Rolls all had fine games for Ruapehu.
Marton's top performers were flankers Craig Durston and Hamish Greer, first five Dominic Rayner and centre Matt Lopdell.