Marists took the first town derby bragging rights for the season in Division 1.
Brought to you by Whanganui Rugby
The first town derby bragging rights for the season in Division 1 go to Davie Hoskin Carriers Marist after a 22-17 win over neighbours Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau at the Country Club on Saturday.
However, the victory was not without controversy as the referee decided to end the match with about 23 minutes remaining due to alleged backchats and comments directed toward the official.
Marist’s tries came from their forwards, lock Bradley Graham, flanker Te Hiiri Ponga and reserve Lucas Reardon, with fullback Dominic Devine adding two conversions and a penalty.
Kaierau’s points were tries from flanker Sevanaia Vudiniabola, second five Nemia Adrole and winger Peniani Waqatabu, with one conversion from first five Brook Tremayne.
Byfords Readimix Taihape slogged their way to a tough 17-12 northern derby away win over Ruapehu.
In the first top-grade game played at Ohakune’s Rochfort Park since 2023, the home side got a penalty try while prop Ezekiel Anderson also dotted down.
The defending champions rallied with tries from skipper and flanker Jack Kinder, second five Cyrus Tasi and reserve Xzaviyah Ralph, with first five Dane Whale adding one conversion.
In Division 2, there was a Memorial Park double feature with RockGas Whanganui Pirates retaining their newly-won Challenge Shield with a big 62-10 win over Horizon Networks Taihape.
The large victory moved Pirates back to the top of the table ahead of Utiku Old Boys, who defeated Kelso Hunterville 25-22 in an important clash in the race to see who will lift the inaugural Peter Rowe Cup.
Direct Connect Marist Celtic bounced back from their Challenge Shield loss to Pirates to hang on 20-19 against Marton at Spriggens Park.
The Hunterville and Marton losses put them under a bit of mathematical pressure in the race to be in the Top 5 when Division 2 splits, after sixth-placed Border’s 39-21 win over Whanganui Can-Am Counties in a game played on Thursday night at Macnab Domain.
Also on the climb in the Tasman Tanning Te Awa Wāhine competition are Byfords Construction Taihape, whose big 58-0 win over local rivals Silks Audit Rātana on Friday night at Memorial Park moved them up to second place on the table.
The AGC Marist Clovers got their first win of the new-look competition, beating fellow Whanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU) team Rangitīkei 58-7 at the Hunterville Domain on Friday.
There are a couple of interesting on-field match-ups between personnel as the Division 1 competition approaches the run-down to see who will lift the Trevor Olney Taonga as first round winners.
At the Country Club, a Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau side wanting to right their campaign face the fast-climbing McCrea Scanning Counties, trying to win three straight games in their debut season in the top flight.
It will be the first time back for incumbent Steelform Whanganui skipper Doug Horrocks, now with his family club of Counties after previously taking Kaierau to consecutive unsuccessful Premier grand finals.
With the possibility of former Whanganui great Lindsay Horrocks rejoining the representative picture for the 2026 Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship, the halfback tussle between him and 2025 incumbent Cody Mitchell will also be interesting.
Up at Dallison Park, unbeaten Waverley Harvesting Border come off the bye to defend the Challenge Shield against Silks Audit Rātana, while in the race to avoid seventh-team relegation, Ruapehu have another tough ask, facing Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist at Spriggens Park.
Division 1
2.45pm kickoffs
Kaierau v Counties, Country Club; Marist v Ruapehu, Spriggens Park; Challenge Shield – Border v Rātana, Dallison Park; Bye: Taihape.
Division 2
1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change)
Challenge Shield – Hunterville v Pirates, Hunterville Domain; Marist Celtic v Utiku Old Boys, Spriggens Park; Kaierau v Marton, Country Club; Taihape v Counties, Memorial Park.
Tasman Tanning Te Awa Wahine
May 8: Marist Clovers v Rātana, 6pm, Cooks Gardens; Taihape v Rangitīkei, 6.30pm, Memorial Park.
May 9: OBM v Kia Toa, 12.45pm, Central Energy Trust Arena; Freyberg v Bush, 12.45pm, Colquhoun Park.