Points table reshuffle for Wanganui premiership rugby

Wanganui Rugby: Marist vs Ratana; Marist No. 14 Natahan Puketapu over for the try with Ratana No. 11 Western Hemi. Sunday, April 23, 2017 Wanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.

The Tasman Tanning Wanganui Premier rugby table had a reshuffle at the weekend as unbeaten leaders Waverley Harvesting Border sat out the bye.

Winning five straight, Border remain at the top with 23 points after round 6 at the weekend, while PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape narrowed the gap to just one point (22pts) with its comeback 30-24 victory over McCarthy Transport Ruapehu.
Taihape's cause was helped by Hamish Bennett scoring two tries and Tekanu Tapa McLeod also dotting down twice as well as kicking a penalty and conversion.

Despite scoring a bonus point Ruapehu slip down two spots to fifth on 18 points after Black Bull Liquor Pirates accounted for Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 49-28. Pirates now sits in fourth with 19 points.

Dave Hoskins Carriers Marist moved into third on 21 following a messy 54-26 win of bottom of the table Harvey Round Motors Ratana at Spriggens Park. The young Ratana side, however, posted its first point after scoring four tries against Marist.

Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri appears to have hit its straps scoring its second win on end when dotting down seven tries against Utiku OB. The 51-29 scoreline was achieved with the help of big Ngamatapouri centre Jim Suewelu scoring three. Ngamatapouri moves up the ladder in sixth with 14 points.

The Grand Hotel Challenge Shield obviously stays in South Taranaki in the Border trophy cabinet.

Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield in the senior grade remains in Pirates' hands after it beat Kaierau 48-24.

Pirates and Speirs Food Marton remain the only unbeaten sides in the senior grade after the Rangitikei side dealt to Marist Celtic 34-0, while Marist Buffalo's was hammered 49-24 by Border.

The top three on the senior table remain the same with Marton leading with 30 points, a bonus point ahead of Pirates on 29 and Kelso Hunterville on 22 after it dispatched Counties 33-19 at McNab Domain.

At Memorial Park, Taihape edged out Ruapehu 13-12 to now sit fourth on the table with 18. Celtic has slipped to sixth behind Border in fifth.