It was a much anticipated and festive afternoon in the Rātana Pa on Saturday, but come fulltime on a rain-swept field it was the Pacifica voices singing the loudest as Marton proved the party crashers with a grinding 10-7 win.

With both sides returning to Tasman Tanning Premier rugby for the first time since 2019 and 2014 respectively, making it the first top grade Rangitikei derby in a decade, each team came away well aware they have a lot of work to do improving their set-piece before facing up to the big dogs of the competition.

It was four-seasons-in-one-day weather, the match starting in sunshine and finishing in hard rain, with play very stop-start, but Marton struck while fresh in both halves with early tries to lock Kali Rasese and fullback Barba Jr Peika respectively.

Both sides had lineout troubles, Marton’s occurring in the first half to prevent them from extending their 5-0 advantage, and although the visitor’s scrum was buoyed to turn the Rātana pack for a couple of penalties – unheard of in season’s past – injury to a couple of their props reduced the match to golden oldies in the 60 th minute.

Getting the wind and ‘downhill’ advantage in the second half, Rātana were finally able to close the gap through a backline with a lot of raw potential – former Steelform Whanganui player Cody Hemi scoring off a burst and offload by centre Lafo Takiari.

They, along with first-five Brooklyn Herewini and Hurricanes Under 20’s wider training squad member Mitai Hemi could do a bit of damage this season, but they need momentum to do it.

Up front, player-coach Jamie Hughes did his best at flanker with a multitude of tackling, while fellow veteran Marius Joseph at No8 looked to get them on the front foot.

Reserve back Cory Chant claimed what would have been the winning try with a kick-chase into the in-goal with less than three minutes left, but the ball had been ruled lost forward earlier in the movement.

While Marton were likewise still finding their way, the acquisition of Dane Whale is crucial – as the
incumbent Steelform Whanganui skipper led them around the field and utilised his kicking game, especially with the first half breeze, while looking for width attack through his familiar Taihape partnership with fellow new arrival in centre Tim Goodwin.

Marton have some raw potential in their backline as well – wingers Loki Peniasi and Ben Ranitu looked dangerous in broken field play - while halfback Dakuitago Ratu went on lots of probing runs.

The visitors overcame the professional foul sinbinnings of Whale and flanker Mosese Vueti in each half, while defending inside their own 50m for most of latter stages, before working out of harm’s way with a couple of penalties to end the match.

As the season opener, Marton coach Shane Ratima was happy to get out of the Pa with a win any way he could.

“I think spending more time together as a team [will help]– we’re facing a few challenges of quite a few of my guys on night shifts, so we can only train one night together as a group.

“We training together today, so I think as time progresses we’ll get a bit more clarity on what we’re doing out there.

“I wanted to keep the message simple today that it was just around effort, and they certainly gave that towards the back end of the game.

“I knew lineout was going to be a bit of an issue, we’ve only had three unit sessions together and lineout is one of those key work-ons.

“Once the guys understand each other and get better at our lift-jump throws – I take a bit of passion and pride in that area - so we’ll be working hard on that to make sure we get it better.”

Ratima praised Whale, who will take on so much responsibility for lifting the team up to Premier
standard.

“Class is ever lasting and Dane’s certainly an example of that, and to have that leadership and direction around the field, we probably wouldn’t have come out with that result without that.”

For his first game in charge on such an historic afternoon, Hughes obviously hoped for better, but has his own list of areas to start addressing.

“Probably lineouts, trying to win the set piece.

“I thought we were a bit hard done by when it went to golden oldies, especially in Premier grade.

“It’s good to have three teams playing out at the Pa, having the women’s team coming out for the first time, and even the B’s [Senior team] fronting.

“I think this is the first time since maybe 2014 that we’ve had [two teams].

“There’s a lot of young fellas here, young talent.

“Once we get front foot ball in the forwards, the backs will be able to be unleashed.”

Whale made his mark right away with a booming clearance leading to a Marton throw-in, inside
Rātana’s 22m.

Shortly after, prop Faamanu Pulemagafa carried towards the line, and Rasese snatched it at the ruck and ran through to dive across in the last tackle.

But there would be no further scoring until about the 45 th minute, as with the wind no longer behind them, Whale looked to spread wide and get his speedsters running at their markers outside shoulder.

Getting onto attack, a long pass found Peika, who backed himself to take on the defenders in the corner and get the ball down.

After scrums went to golden oldies, Ratana got a penalty and looked to work off that set piece, and
Takiari made a great angled run to get around the cover defence, and then flick his pass to Hemi running on his elbow to score, with reserve first-five Boboy Takiari taking the only successful conversion.

But Rātana would get no closer, the final quarter full of errors and penalties, with Marton surviving
Chant’s great run and chip-chase to secure the historic victory.

Marton 10 (Kali Rasese, Barba Jr Peika tries) bt Rātana 7 (Cody Hemi try; Boboy Takiari con). HT: 5-0.

By Jared Smith