A golden opportunity to at least temporarily oust Taihape from the Premier top four slipped through Marton's fingers as Ratana held on for their first victory since mid-April on Saturday.
Giving the long-suffering supporters at the Ratana Paa some consolation, one penalty kick separated the two evenly-matched squads come the final whistle, 28-25.
Given last week's postponement of the Taihape v Kaierau game, coupled with Taihape's disappointing loss to Border in Waverley, a Marton win would have lifted them to fourth on points differential.
Both Marton and Ratana scored three tries at the Paa, with Ratana getting home after leading by seven at halftime.
Back in Wanganui, Pirates put any plans for Kaierau to climb closer to Marton and Taihape well on the back burner, barging over for seven tries in a 45-0 shutout.
Flanker Brad Matthews grabbed a double at the Country Club as Pirates rebounded from both their hard loss in Ohakune the week before and shock defeat to Kaierau in round one building on their 21-0 halftime lead and not allowing the home side any respectability on the scoreboard.
Across town at Spriggens Park, Marist were on to a hiding to nothing facing Ruapehu in the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield game, and although the scoreline was an improvement on the flogging in round one it wasn't by much, the visitors scoring 10 tries in the 69-13 mauling.
Ruapehu opted not to start representative forwards Shaun McDonough and Nick Cranston, but the pack still had their way as hooker Roman Tutauha grabbed a hat-trick of tries.
Winger Robert Hughes added a double to the tally.
In senior rugby, Hunterville were not put off by their unscheduled week's break from the Kaierau game postponement, as they lifted the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield off Counties 12-5.
It will be interesting to see if the top senior team grasping the Shield stops its jumping bean nature, as the prize has been through five sets of hands in as many games.
Ruapehu had an important 15-5 win over Celtic, lifting them into clear second place and away from the four-team log jam in the tightly contested Championship group.
In the Consolation group, Kaierau did not have the best start to the round as they were upset by cellar-dwellers St John's Tech 15-10, who finally got to the victory circle for season 2013.
Wanganui Rugby results June 29
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 13.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield McCarthy's Ruapehu 69 (Roman Tutauha 3, Robert Hughes 2, Peter Rowe, Ian Rowe, Sonny Woodmass, George Williams, Tama Nahona tries, Tautahi Rawiri pen, 8 con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 13 (Bradley Graham try, Travis Bartels 2 pen, con). HT: 34-6.
Integrity Motors Pirates 45 (Brad Matthews 2, Enesu Seloti, Lee Ashford, Clive Stowers, Denning Tyrell, Willie Kabakaba tries, Josh Marwick 5 con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 0. HT: 21-0.
Harvey Round Motors Ratana 28 (Western Hemi, Petera Martin, Charlie Mete tries, Caleb Maraku 3 pen, 2 con) bt Marton 25 (Moli Sagapolutele, Tyler Rogers-Holden, Ray Uini tries, Soonaote Tauailoto 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 15-8.
Waverley Harvesting Border 38 (Fraser Middleton 2, Sailosi Naoiso, Liam Richardson, Aaron Vadiga, Sam Madams tries, Mark Davis 4 con) bt Taihape 13 (Marcus Tottman, Timi Tepaa tries, Luke Whale pen). HT: 12-3.
Bye: Utiku OB.
Grand Irish Bar Premier MVP Points (Week 13)
At Spriggens Park Roman Tuitauha (Ruapehu hooker) 3 points, Peter Rowe (Ruapehu flanker) 2, George Williams (Ruapehu first five) 1.
At Kaierau Country Club Brad Matthews (Pirates flanker) 3, Lasa Ulukuta (Pirates No8) 2, Joel Martin (Kaierau flanker) 1.
At Ratana Paa Isaac Fonotoe (Ratana lock) 3, Ray Uini (Marton prop) 2, Tyler Fraser-Holden (Marton halfback) 1.
At Dallison Park Fraser Middleton (Border fullback) 3, Sam Madams (Border lock) 2, Marcus Tottman (Taihape flanker) 1.
Latest MVP Standings: Ulukuta 21 points, Middleton 19, Faamanu Manutuhiha (Marton), Isaac Fonotoe (Ratana), Rowe and Jason Hughes (Ruapehu) 9, Mark Davis (Border) 8, Shaun Hawira (Ruapehu), Ihaia Tai and Vaan Rauhina (Ratana) 7, Soonalote Tauailoto (Marton), Junior Tume (Pirates), Sailosi Naoiso (Border) and Tutauha 6.
Senior Championship, Week 12.
At Spriggens Park Ruapehu bt Celtic 15-5. HT: 3-0.
At Racecourse Taihape bt Trans Pacific Pirates 42-19. HT: 19-7.
At Hunterville (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield) Power Farming (PN) Hunterville bt Counties 12-5.
Senior Consolation, Week 12
At Kaierau C.C. St John's Tech bt Kaierau 15-10. HT: 7-6 Kaierau.
At Waverley Marist bt Border 34-29. HT: 24-12 Border.
At Marton Park Utiku OB bt Marton 19-12. HT: 11-0.