Ratana rugby coach Murray Ririnui hopes another dynasty might be starting at the pa.
Ririnui and Willy Thompson are jointly coaching this year's Ratana senior rugby team, now a clear leader of the Wanganui competition after Kaierau's 12-all draw with Taihape on Saturday.
There were aspects of Ratana's muscular display in putting
away Pirates 33-0 at Ratana on Saturday which suggested much better is to come.
"Hopefully we can go back to where we were before ? we didn't lose a game here for three years," Ririnui said at Ratana on Saturday.
The only real problem with Ratana on Saturday was a clear slackening in the final quarter when they were comfortably in control.
"Yes, they did button off a bit at the end but we're reasonably happy with it," Ririnui said. "The boys muscled up well and it was good to see whether we really had it or not. There's still plenty to do, but hey ? we'll take it."
Ririnui and Thompson are still working out their best combinations, especially in the loose forwards where they have a wealth of ability in Paul Belliss, Terry Tanoa, Saturday's captain Jamie Berry and former Pirates player Phil Stirling.
Stirling in particular held his hand up with a powerful running game in his first crack in the No 7 jersey.
Ratana plays Kaierau, at the Kaierau Country Club, this Saturday in what should be a dent sorting out of where the power stands in Wanganui club rugby at this early stage. Kaierau escaped with a 12-all draw at Taihape after having several players away at a wedding.
Ruapehu, still needing tome together, scraped an 8-6 win over Utiku at Ohakune and Marist comfortably beat Marton 31-10 at Spriggens Park.
Overall, it's becoming a much closer competition than last year's.
