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Border sit atop the Whanganui Rugby Football Union Division 1 standings and keep the Challenge Shield for another week after an ultimately comfortable 50-22 win over top-grade newcomers Counties at Dallison Park on Saturday.
However, the half-century by the home side belies how competitive the week-two clash actually was, as the game represented a sort of homecoming for Border great Lindsay Horrocks, as well as another Premiership-winner for the Waverley-based club, Counties coach Bryn Hudson.
In the second half, the teams went tit-for-tat with tries, with Counties trailing 38-22 entering the last 15 minutes and with a genuine chance to push for at least one bonus point, if not two.
However, the talented Fijian outside backs in the home side could no longer be held off by the tiring visitors as they streaked away for two more tries inside the final seven minutes.
There was a historic match at the Pā as Rātana defeated Ruapehu 24-17 in the mountain men’s return game to the top grade, the first time these clubs have faced each other at this level since 2019.
Both teams scored three tries, but goals carried the day as several Rātana kickers combined for two conversions and two penalties.
Week four of Division 2 saw a new holder of the Challenge Shield and the end of an undefeated streak as Marist Celtic upended table leaders Hunterville 10-0 in heavy, wet weather at Spriggens Park, Celtic getting all their points in the second half.
That allowed Pirates to take over the top of the table after travelling to Waverley to secure a 33-7 win over Border.
Utiku Old Boys kept pace with Pirates after winning their always-anticipated Memorial Park derby with Taihape 38-0, as Taihape had a handful of players backing up from playing in Friday night’s Division 1 game.
The “Wolf Pack” were howling at the Country Club as Kaierau got their first win of the season, beating Counties 36-7.
It was a tough weekend for the Whanganui clubs in the inter-district Tasman Tanning Te Awa Wāhine competition, all three suffering defeats.
After an undefeated 2025, the Marist Clovers got a heavy wake-up to this new grade with a 59-21 defeat away to Bush, while Taihape were competitive in their 24-17 defeat to OBM at Palmerston North’s Central Energy Trust Arena.
Freyberg defeated Rangitīkei 114-0 at Bulls Domain.
It will be Anzac Day footy in Whanganui Rugby Football Union club rugby this weekend as the picture may start becoming clearer over which teams are likely to be in the prime positions come the three-way split into three divisions at the end of May.
One of 2026’s Division 1 newcomers, Counties, have their first home game at Macnab Domain against Ruapehu.
These clubs last met in the 2025 Senior competition on June 7 at Rochfort Park, with Ruapehu just getting home 22-21 to lift the Challenge Shield, although both teams have since seen several changes in team personnel as they ascended to Division 1 this season.
Border will defend their Challenge Shield at home against Kaierau, while Marist return from their bye to take on Taihape at Spriggens Park.
Division 1
2.45pm kickoffs: Counties v Ruapehu, Macnab Domain; Challenge Shield – Border v Kaierau, Dallison Park; Marist v Taihape, Spriggens Park. Bye: Rātana.
Division 2
1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change): Challenge Shield – Pirates v Celtic, Spriggens Park; Counties v Utiku Old Boys, Macnab Domain; Marton v Taihape, Marton Park; Border v Kaierau, Dallison Park. Bye: Hunterville.
Te Awa Wāhine
April 24: Kia Toa v Rangitīkei, 6pm, Central Energy Trust Arena; Taihape v Freyberg, 7pm, Memorial Park; Rātana v Bush, 7.30pm, Cooks Gardens.
April 25: Marist Clovers v OBM, 1pm, Cullinane College.