It was the other winger, Beniamino Vota, who finally barged his way over in the corner near fulltime to give Border back a one-point lead, while fullback Junior Kubunavanua, relative of 63-game Steelform Whanganui veteran Samu Kubunavanua, likewise attacked the defensive line with gusto.
Marist were missing the older Kubunavanua, but trotted out a well-balanced squad of veterans and promising youth players as, following the improvement of finishing third in 2025, they are determined to go one game further this season.
The front row holding sway in the scrum were Atriane Marino and the Tofas – Alesana and Raponi – backed by Jacob Gedye off the bench. Locks Ben O’Leary and veteran Brad Graham were uncompromising on defence, and O’Leary was missed after he went off before halftime following a heavy cheekbone knock.
Stepping up from the Senior title-winning but now defunct Knights, goal-kicking fullback Dominic Devine and tough No 8 Brandon Burberry are franchise players in the making, while it was great to see a fully healthy Daniel Kauika back running the cutter from halfback.
Marist will only rue a few missed lineout opportunities and other errors when trying to work out of their own 50m at the back end of the first half, which granted Border’s Fijians added opportunities to finally break the line and score, along with other key mistakes trying to keep traction inside the attacking 22m.
However, all three of their tries were excellent team efforts from a 65m breakout, a great chip-and-chase and a nifty front-of-lineout move, respectively.
While he is working with fellow former Whanganui representative Angus Middleton as a fresh Border coaching group, Paul Mitchell knew the rivalry with Marist would only continue to grow.
“They always put up a good fight; we knew we wouldn’t come to Spriggens Park and take it easy.
“It’s a starting point for us and we just got it right in the last minute, we were pretty lucky really.
“We’re lacking a few forwards, but some other guys have stepped back up and we really appreciate that, and they’ve done a good job at the end of the day.
“We’ll take the shield and good luck to anyone trying to take it off us, I reckon.”
Marist coach Steelie Koro knew there were only four or five key moments in the game where, if the coin toss had landed their way, Marist would have claimed the shield for the first time since 2019.
“Momentum shifts, and it’s recognising those momentum shifts and I think going away from this game it’s trying to rectify those.
“A very good first outing for us - it was anyone’s game in the end.
“With a new-looking team, some of the new ones struggled with the physicality and the speed of the game, and that was to be known.
“To get away with a result like that and still have those areas to clean up is a pretty easy fix really - it’s just going to be time in the saddle.”
