Pirates carrying the ball into contact. Photo / Kate Belsham, Ivy Digital
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There was an entertaining and historic restart for the WRFU Division 2, formerly Senior competition, at a lush green Spriggens Park with the very welcome return of a men’s club team which has spent nearly 12 months in recess.
The Rockgas Wanganui Pirates hosted the Marton Stingerz for the Rangitīkei club’s first adult men’s match since Round 1 of the 2025 Premier season, after which a threadbare squad suffered further injuries and defaulted the rest of the campaign.
Back in the second-tier club competition with a new-look side and coaching group, Marton acquitted themselves very well – hanging with Pirates right to the end when the home team’s fifth try took them clear for a 33-24 victory.
The visitors struck first after running out of their own half and, a few phases later, fullback Anare Vula hit the gap and stepped away from the cover to score, with first-five Nereo Vunivosa slotting a straightforward conversion.
Pirates hit back as the warm conditions led to a few indiscretion penalties and a strong run by flanker Tatara Cook saw the ball spill out the side of the tryline breakdown and centre Mythias Cook snatched it up to dive across, converted by lock Puna Jackson-Apai.
The tall Vunivosa created a similar Marton try as he worked through multiple defenders and then standout centre Dartention Stanley shot through space near the ruck to make it 12-7.
Stung, no pun intended, Pirates proceeded to dominate field position for the rest of the half, working forward off penalties, and eventually the tired defence had no more flank cover as prop Troy Leef took a wide pass to run it in for a 14-12 at the break.
Pirates kept it up from the restart as reserve Corey Lee twisted his way through multiple tackles to get the ball on the line, with Jackson-Apai slotting his third straight kick for what proved a key 21-12 lead.
An excellent restart kick regather by Vunivosa saw Marton get into position immediately, again working up off penalties, and Stanley dashed through again off another ruck for his double to cut the deficit to four points.
Both sides then tried a new wrinkle on the match with 14 v 14, after Cook and Marton winger Ananaiasa Waqa were both sin-binned for professional fouls, and Pirates came out the better from it when fullback Tuhau Williams bumped off a tackler and found the space to sprint in at the corner flag.
Marton would not go down quietly as they got a penalty tap and again pulled Pirates into centre field before quick passes to the fringes saw winger Elijah Barbarich dive across untouched, reserve Joey Raukawa coming on to nail a great sideline conversion for 26-24 with six minutes left.
But there would be no fairytale for the visitors, as spilled possession trying to clear their half gave Pirates position. Although they fumbled the ball backwards trying to move it, Williams snatched the ball and saw the defensive line had lost shape – sprinting through a gap to find his way to a brilliant double. Due to an early charge, Jackson-Apai was allowed a second conversion attempt which he nailed to deny Marton a deserved second bonus point.
As well as an opening day win, Pirates coach Matt Davis has some first-class assistance at the moment with former Steelform Whanganui coach Jason Caskey lending his expertise.
“Stoked with that [win], half our squad just turned up just this week, and today, but proud of that effort.
“We’ve got heaps of new players and I’m excited that we can have a good run.
“We’ve got a good draw, I’m looking forward to it, we’ve got a good group.”
For returning Marton coach Dennis Tucker, the journey to just get back on the field was the reward.
“It’s been really, really hard, we’ve been struggling with night shift workers and stuff like that.
“Talked to Aaron [Wigglesworth], Lowie [Harrison] and Nick [Hunt] and got a couple of others in, and we’ve managed to get a squad together to do it.
“There’s about three different languages and cultures in there but to get them out on the field, it’s humbling, and they competed and that’s all it was.
“Being part of something that we wanted to see again – that blue and gold back out there with the Stingerz.
“Got to thank the refs and the ARs, amazing work, and these boys, they put some things together, but it comes down to training.
“They can do individual stuff but what we need them to do as a team, that’s where we fell apart.
“But when you have a young centre like Dartention, oh my goodness, how well did he play? He had an awesome game.
“It’s good to see we’ve got some talent coming through and these boys are all happy.”
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