Scrappy affair sees Kaierau on top

SIGHTING THE LINE: Stu Brosnahan about to run in Kaierau's second try against Marist at Spriggens Park in one of the game's few sparkling passages of play on Saturday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

SEVEN days is a long time in Tasman Tanning Premier rugby as Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau prevailed 30-13 over Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist in a dour match at Spriggens Park on Saturday.

Coming off the high of upsetting Black Bull Liquor Pirates the week before, Marist were hamstrung, literally, when their backline general Steelie Koro aggravated a previous calf injury during the warm-ups, necessitating a last minute reshuffle.

In a stop-start affair against a Kaierau unit which was typically eager but often lacking in execution, Marist struggled to get out of their own half in the first 40 minutes, criminally so considering they had ball in hand in the middle of the park but made crucial turnovers.

Kaierau also gave away plenty of possession from handling errors, with both teams having obvious candidates for 'goose of the week' by dropping the ball with the tryline wide open.

Strangely enough, when both tiring squads abandoned structure in the final quarter and just tried to manufacture opportunities across the park, they became more watchable, at least as play became more free flowing.

While they weren't perfect, Kaierau's midfield of Ace Malo and tryscorer Kameli Kuruyabaki were the more likely to turn attack into points, with Kaierau's second tries of each half being well taken chances with ball in hand.

"There's plenty to do, especially around the contact area," said coach Denis Edwards, who took consolation in a bonus point win for an uneven effort.

"Lineouts were rubbish, ball into contact was rubbish. We were lucky we had the better backs on the day.

"That's the name of the game - ball retention."

For Marist counterpart Jason Hamlin, there was no such comfort, especially with Koro now doubtful in the immediate future.

"We had three opportunities to score in the first half.

"Turnover was a killer for us. We lacked a little bit of composure.

"It went from skittery to skittery. It can't have been a good game to watch."

Kaierau started very well after the first of many free kicks at the breakdown from referee Mark Chillingworth, attacking the line where speedy prop Jack Yarrall ducked under tacklers to score out wide.

Marist would rue mistake after mistake in the centre of the park - their only chance for points in the first quarter being a missed Sam Monaghan penalty, while Kaierau could not capitalise as often the last pass went to ground or an opposition player.

Fullback Anaru Saurara was looking sharp until coming off following a hard hit, with Malo adding a penalty.

Then late in what proved a very long opening 40 minutes, Kaierau finally got their act together as Kuruyabaki, Yarrall, and winger Carl Pascoe made the initially burst, then flanker Joel Martin linked with the outside backs with winger Carlos Riddles running into space and putting reserve Stu Brosnahan away for 15-0.

Monaghan would miss an early second half penalty, but got a reprieve when Chillingworth ordered a replay kick because Kaierau moved forward, this time making no mistake.

Kaierau tried to exploit their advantage out wide but dropped ball and kicks out on the full weren't helping, although Marist's infringing gave Malo a couple of penalty attempts, nailing the second for 18-3.

Marist finally hit back when they retained the ball for a series of hitups, and then reserve Mareke Willis set up fullback Scott Dowman to go over in the corner.

But another attempt at being expansive backfired as following a strong midfield run by winger Simon Dibben, Marist spread to his side and Kaierau reserve lock Cade Robinson snatched an intercept , and with no outside backs nearby he was able to dash 50m to score in the corner.

That deflated Marist and Kuruyabaki soon found a gap up the middle to pirouette through and dash under the posts for the bonus point try.

Marist had a late chance to salvage some respectability with Viki Tofa diving over the top of a tryline ruck to score in the game's final play.

-Kaierau 30 (Jack Yarrall, Stu Brosnahan, Cade Robinson, Kameli Kuruyabaki tries, Ace Malo 2 pen, 2 con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 13 (Scott Dowman, Viki Tofa tries, Sam Monaghan pen). HT: 15-0.