Whanganui rugby: Taihape edge Counties in late thriller as club rugby kicks off

Taihape scored in the last minute for a win over Counties in their Division 1 opener.

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It may have been nine months since they were crowned Premier champions by just one point, but Taihape were straight back into grandstand finish mode with their Division 1 opener against the newcomers at Memorial Park on Saturday.

Facing the fresh Counties team to top grade, a last-minute try in the Taihape Area School corner snatched a dramatic 22-19 win over the desperately unlucky visitors who were hunting a historic inaugural win at this level.

There was no late thriller at Rātana Pa, as the back-to-back Premier runners-up, Kaierau, unveiled a new-look lineup who, after a tough first half at 5-5, pulled away in the final quarter for a 34-19 victory over Rātana.

In the third week of the Division 2 Peter Rowe Cup round, Utiku Old Boys went from scoring just three points against Pirates to running away with an 85-24 victory over Border at Memorial Park.

Pirates stayed with Utiku on the points table after a 31-15 derby win over an improving Kaierau at the Country Club, while Marton continued their table climb with back-to-back home wins, beating Counties 36-7.

The Challenge Shield remains with table leaders Hunterville, who picked up a comfortable 43-20 home win over Taihape.

Friday night and Saturday afternoon also saw the start of the new inter-district Tasman Tanning Te Awa Wahine competition.

At Cooks Gardens, the Rātana side ran in 16 tries in a 103-0 victory over the new-look Rangitīkei – a combined squad of the Hunterville, Bulls and Marton clubs.

Last season’s WRFU Women’s runners-up Taihape lost 59-10 to Bush at Memorial Park, while, in the Manawatū derby match, Kia Toa defeated Freyberg 37-15 away at Bill Brown Park.

Club preview

For the first time since 2023, Ruapehu are back in the WRFU top grade, where, following the week 1 bye, they will head to Rātana Pa this Saturday.

Ruapehu have not been idle waiting for their Division 1 opener as they faced Division 2’s Marist Celtic, also on a bye, in a friendly match at Spriggens Park on Saturday, winning 48-10.

There will be a humdinger at the Country Club as, after both teams won their opening games, Kaierau host Taihape in the 2025 Premier grand final rematch.

Border make their first home defence of the Challenge Shield when they host newcomers Counties at Dallison Park, which will be a homecoming of sorts for a couple of the key Counties personnel who were big parts of Border Premiership five-peat, 2020-24.

Draw April 17-18

Division 1

2.45pm kickoffs

Kaierau v Taihape, Country Club; Rātana v Ruapehu, Rātana Pa; Challenge Shield – Border v Counties, Dallison Park. Bye: Marist.

Division 2

1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change)

Utiku Old Boys v Taihape, Memorial Park; Challenge Shield - Celtic v Hunterville, Spriggens Park; Kaierau v Counties, Country Club; Border v Pirates, Dallison Park.

Te Awa Wahine

April 17: Rangitīkei v Freyberg, Bulls Domain, 5.30pm; WWT Seniors v Rātana, Bulls Domain, 7.30pm; OBM v Taihape, Central Energy Trust Arena 3, 7.30pm.

April 18: Bush v Marist Clovers, Bush Sports Park 11, 1pm.