Pirates have good trip to Settler's Park

Marist centre Josaia Bogileka tries to get free of the Utiku Old Boys cover defence in his side's big win at Spriggens Park.

The other contenders for Tasman Tanning Premier's Top 4 all did the business with bonus point wins on Saturday, as with seven rounds remaining until the playoffs every weekend will have at least one game with crucial bearing on the standings.

While Waverley Harvesting Border were content with their late shut-out of McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu, they cannot shake off Black Bull Liquor Pirates, who defended the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield in the Waitotara Valley with a 38-5 disposal of Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri.

Ahead only 12-5 at halftime, Pirates put the game away with four more second half tries, including a double to halfback Fa'alele Iosua.

The heavy loss all-but spells the end of Ngamatapouri's realistic chances of making the playoffs in their debut Premier season, but nonethless they can remain spoilers for the other top clubs with the threat of upsets once they get back to full strength.

At Memorial Park, PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape collected the five points they needed to move up and be tied with Ruapehu in fourth spot, after their 45-14 win over Harvey Round Motors Ratana.

Paora McCarthy and Te Rangi Tapu McLeod both scored two of their team's seven tries.
Taihape are facing a tough scrap with their sub-union neighbours Ruapehu to claim the last playoffs berth, as they have now secured all the straight-forward points available by beating the two lowest-ranked teams and will have to take the bye in the last round-robin weekend.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist also had no issues moving back into third spot with their 54-7 dismissal of Utiku Old Boys at Spriggens Park.

Rebounding from the Shield loss to Pirates, the home side scored eight tries with Sean Brown converting seven of them.

Cameron Crowley made a welcome return to score a hat trick of tries, while work horse flanker Ryan Gill got a double.

It sets up a big Queens Birthday Weekend for Marist as the club holds its 100th anniversary when they play Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau - repaying the favour from last year when the club's met at Kaierau's 125th celebration.

Senior rugby completed Round 1 and will now split into the Championship and Consolation grades, removing the need for default wins caused by Utiku Old Boys' withdrawal at the start of the season.

Table leaders Speirs Food Marton ended Ruapehu's faint chance of making the Championship group with a 39-12 defence of the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield, having now swept the board with ten straight wins.

Kelso Hunterville got a big boost from a vital 34-7 win at home over Black Bull Liquor Pirates to move up into that key second place for a home semifinal and the chance to avoid Marton in the playoffs until the final.

Kaierau ended the round with a rare flourish from the teams consigned to the Consolation group when they upset Counties at home 17-5.

While Counties were already safe for the Top 6, the loss could come back to bite them at the end of the season as they now sit outside the semifinal spots, with Marist Celtic moving to fourth after they came from behind at Memorial Park to beat Taihape 37-17.

Results, May 27

Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 11.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 54 (Cameron Crowley 3, Ryan Gill 2, Steelie Koro, Marek Willis, Lake Ah Chong tries; Sean Brown 7 con) bt Utiku OB 7 (Matt Crawford try; Ra Broughton con). HT: 19-7.

Waverley Harvesting Border 36 (Harry Symes 2, Sokonia Kalou, Isaiah Hooper, Nick Harding tries; Harding pen, 4 con) bt McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 12 (Shaquille Waara, Jamie Hughes tries; Cruz Pene con). HT: 12-5 Ruapehu.

PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 45 (Paora McCarthy 2, Te Rangi Tapu McLeod 2, Matt Brown, Michael Conlon, Jack Kinder tries; Dane Whale 5 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 14 (Western Hemi, Dale Akuhata tries; Harerangi Meihana 2 con). HT: 24-0.

Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Black Bull Liquor Pirates 38 (Fa'alele Iosua 2, Tafulu Isaako, Clive Stowers, Denning Tyrell, Fa'amanu Pulemagafa tries; Junior Ainea 4 con) bt Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 5 (Jim Serewalu try). HT: 12-5.

Bye: Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau.

Senior Championship, Week 11.

At McNab Domain: Kaierau bt Counties 17-5.

At Hunterville: Kelso Hunterville bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 34-7. HT: 22-0.

At Memorial Park: Celtic bt Taihape 37-17. HT: 14-6 Taihape.

At Rochfort Park, Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield - Speirs Food Marton bt Ruapehu 39-12. HT: 24-0.

Buffalo's bt Utiku OB by default.

Bye: Border.