TRY TIME: Pirates winger Pena Ulukuta goes over to score with Border halfback Lindsay Horrocks too late to stop him at Spriggens Park on Saturday.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 160515WCBRCRUG02
TRY TIME: Pirates winger Pena Ulukuta goes over to score with Border halfback Lindsay Horrocks too late to stop him at Spriggens Park on Saturday.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 160515WCBRCRUG02
INTEGRITY Motors Pirates made the definitive statement to end Round 1 of the Tasman Tanning Premier competition when they lifted both the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield and the Paul Mitchell Cup with a 26-5 shutout of Waverley Harvesting Border at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Pirates scored three tries to onein the first half and then the only seven pointer of the second stanza, raising a bonus point against the previously unbeaten Taranaki team with the best defensive record of the grade.
In the Ulukuta family reunion, all three brothers had strong games as Pirates captain and tryscorer Lasa was the MVP, while Pirates winger Pene and Border flanker Bobo both picked up a point. Border's loss drops them back to third on the table, behind PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape on bonus points.
Up in Ohakune, the hurting McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu turned the clock back for their biggest performance this season, thumping Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 52-0.
In a complete turnaround from the big loss to Pirates last week, Ruapehu scored eight tries with halfback William Short returning from concussion to get a hat trick. Winger Troy Brown put pace in a backline that has been lacking some to get a double, while the home team was well served by both their hookers - Roman Tutauha being strong and his understudy, Gabriel Hakaraia, coming on after a player-of-the-day effort for the seniors to score a great individual try.
Despite only being their second win, plenty of bonus points from narrow defeats moves Ruapehu up to fifth and still an outside chance of making the top four come July if they can recover old form in Round 2.
Over at Memorial Park, Utiku Old Boys welcomed back key outside back Samu Kubunavanua and powered away in the second half to beat bottom-of-the-table Harvey Round Motors Ratana 41-16.
Down by a point at the break, Utiku scored four second-half tries to secure fourth spot on the table, with back Karl Farrell grabbing a double.
In the senior competition, Ruapehu continue to lead the table when they dispatched Marist Celtic 43-11.
However, Ruapehu still have their biggest games upcoming against Ngamatapouri and Kelso Hunterville, who were both impressive in the weekend.
Ngamatapouri comfortably disposed of Kaierau 50-10 at the Country Club, while Hunterville had another tough defence of the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield - taking it down to face Speirs Food Marton, full of players from their defunct premier team, and coming from behind to win 25-17.
Tech picked up an important 25-13 win over Sealswinslow Pirates to sit clearly in seventh spot with four rounds to go until the championship and consolation groups are split.
