Border will have the chance to go top of the table when they face Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau in Waverley this weekend, while Taihape can also regain the spot in the always tense Memorial Park derby match with Utiku Old Boys.
At Ratana Pa, McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu finally got a tick in the win column but only with a late comeback to beat Harvey Round Motors Ratana 38-26.
Ratana's forwards were all over Ruapehu in the first half, leading 21-7 after some typical barge over tries, including a 5m scrum pushover where former Ruapehu No8 Pehira Huwyler scored.
However, Ruapehu hooker Roman Tutauha, one of the remaining players from his team's dominant era and still in top nick, forced his way through the Ratana backline to give his squad a lift.
With some of the Ruapehu senior team coming off the bench, having already had a good 55-5 win in their match, the visitors lifted from 26-23 down to score a couple of late tries as Ratana ran out of stamina.
Securing five points, Ruapehu move back within sight of the top four due to their bonus points and the disjointed nature of the competition, although they also have the bye this week.
In the senior grade, former leaders Sealswinslow Pirates have dropped back down the ladder after their second loss in two weeks, when Marist Celtic broke the 16-all deadlock with a try to win the Spriggens Park derby.
Across on the race track field, Ngamatapouri found more trouble than they expected from Marist Buffalos.
Playing without one of their influential leaders in Reid Belton, who popped his collarbone the previous week, Ngamatapouri were tied 5-all at halftime before pulling away in the second stanza for a 39-5 win.
As well as Ruapehu, Kelso Hunterville retained their unbeaten tag with a 34-7 disposal of Counties in another successful Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield defence at Kaiwhaiki.
Results, April 25
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 6
Integrity Motors Pirates 50 (Lasa Ulukuta 2, Eteuati Emana, Savanalal Takavesi, Saena Vili, Manulua Lafi, Brett Turner tries, Denning Tyrell pen, 6 con) bt Utiku OB 29 (Keith Shaw, Oliver Landridge, Malakai Volou, Michael Nabuliwaqa tries, Ricky Alabaster pen, 3 con). HT: 7-all.
McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu 38 (Troy Brown 2, Ashley Brown, Roman Tutauha, Zyon Hekenui tries, Hekenui 3 pen, 2 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 26 (Pehira Huwyler, Mikaere Penetito, Te Tua Kemp tries, Kemp 3 pen, con). HT: 21-7 Ratana.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Waverley Harvesting Border 15 (Lindsay Horrocks, Poasa Waqanabau, Sikeli Ulukuta tries) bt PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape 12 (Tremaine Gilbert, Tom Wells tries, Wells con). HT: 5-0 Border.
Byes: Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist.
Grand Irish Bar Premier MVP points
At Spriggens Park: Denning Tyrell (Pirates first five) 3 points, Lasa Ulukuta (Pirates No 8), Keith Shaw (Utiku OB prop) and Michael Nabuliwaqa (Utiku OB fullback) 1 each.
At Ratana Pa: Troy Brown (Ruapehu second five) 3, Ihaia Tai (Ratana winger) 2, Andrew Evans (Ruapehu No 8) 1.
At Taihape: Lindsay Horrocks (Border halfback) 3, Hoani Woodhead (Taihape prop), Glen Horton (Taihape fullback) and Cole Baldwin (Border hooker) 1 each.
MVP points leaders: S'aena Vili (Pirates) 5, Ace Malo (Kaierau), Michael Nabuliwaqa (Utiku OB) and Ritchie Graham (Marist) 4 each, 14 players with 3 points each.
Senior Championship, Week 6
At Spriggens Park: Marist Celtic bt Sealswinslow Pirates 23-16. HT: 11-8.
At Racecourse 1: Tech bt Utiku OB 36-14. HT: 25-0.
At Racecourse 2: Ngamatapouri bt Marist Buffalo's 39-5. HT: 5-all.
At Ratana: Ruapehu bt Ratana 55-5. HT: 33-0.
At McNab Domain, Kaiwhaiki (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Kelso Hunterville bt Counties 34-7. HT: 7-all.
At Marton Park: Speirs Food Marton bt Kaierau 22-14. HT: 17-0.
At Memorial Park: Taihape bt Border 29-9. HT: 15-0.
