The four-time defending Rosebowl Trophy holders Waverley Harvesting Border have reached the ‘traditionals’ section of their first round fixtures to see if they can regain the sole trophy not currently housed at Dallison Park.

Undefeated Border are currently clear at the top of the Tasman Tanning Points table with two games left in the round, looking to stay there in order to claim the Paul Mitchell Cup they surrendered to Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau last season.

There is also the Whanganui Rugby Challenge Shield for Border to defend – meaning the South Taranaki club currently has the best shot this season at becoming the first team since the fabled 2013 McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu side to win the ‘triple crown’ – Paul Mitchell (first round leaders), Challenge Shield and Rosebowl (season champions).

But there is a long way to go before then – especially as Premier has returned to being a six team competition, meaning there are no longer individual team byes during the eleven-week regular season.

After disposing of Kaierau 35-12 in Week 1, Border then took on the Premier newcomers in the form of Rātana and Marton – who gave commendable efforts but just didn’t have the firepower against a squad with gritty veteran forwards and all-but current or former representative backline, beaten 43-7 and 29-10 respectively.

That sets up a fortnight of matches against the other Premier regulars – starting this weekend with last year’s semifinal opponent in Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, followed by the old firm rivalry with Byford’s Readmix Taihape.

A familiar duo has reunited with their roles reversed in Border’s coaching lineup, as Steelform Whanganui game centenarian and three-time Premier winning coach Cole Baldwin has come back to help his former assistant in Todd Cowan, who had a great rookie year guiding Border to a record four-peat, followed by support roles with the Whanganui Under 20’s and Heartland Hurricanes U20’s.

A major acquisition has been Whanganui second-five Timoci Seruwalu, who played Manawatu club rugby last year, linking up with his representative midfield partner Alekesio Vakarorogo – Seruwalu having scored three tries in as many games.

Now the regular first-five with the retirement of Craig Clare, Tyrone Albert has so much firepower to feed outside of him which can lead to back-to-back try scoring plays to take games away early.

Border are the only Premier team yet to pop over a three-point penalty, Albert having slotted eleven conversions already from Border’s 17 tries.

Talented loose forward Josefa Namosimalua has grown exponentially into his role – comparisons in his rookie year to another young Fijian standout in the departed Semi Vodosese were a somewhat unfair expectation, but by the end of the 2023 Heartland Championship Namosimalua had become a real force, continuing on this club season to also score three tries.

Also in the loose forwards, captain Angus Middleton will continue to be a workhorse for his beloved club and menace to any side that challenges their position, as will halfback and another Whanganui centenarian in Lindsay Horrocks.

Hunting for their first win over Border since the first round of the 2019 season, Marist are still looking to find their feet in Premier with a new-look side consisting of established veterans and promising players coming up from Senior alongside coaches Steelie Koro and Duane Brown.

It seemed they had not been far off in their first two away games, with a second half comeback against Taihape falling just short at 24-17, while a week later the comeback did secure a draw with Marton, 22-22.

But last weekend at Spriggens Park, when seemingly poised to do the same against Kaierau, Marist gave up 15 points in the final quarter for a disappointing 40-18 loss.

“We’re sort of the opposite, our last two games, the last 20 minutes has been one that pulled us out of the hole,” said Koro.

“Learning points, would be just trying to put a whole 80 minutes.”

The team certainly will want their representative midfielder Josaia Bogileka back to counteract Seruwalu and Vakarorogo.

The fixture will also be for the Jake Alabaster Memorial Shield.

In the other games, Kaierau will host a Rātana team starting to gain some confidence after a rugged win over Taihape in the Pa last weekend.

And it will be something of an emotional homecoming at Taihape’s Memorial Park as incumbent Whanganui captain Dane Whale returns to face his family club with the new-look Marton team.

It will be his first time squaring up against family members Luke and Chad Whale.

By Jared Smith

Tasman Tanning Premier Draw, May 4 2.35pm kickoffs

Border vs Marist, Dallison Park
Kaierau vs Rātana, Country Club
Taihape vs Marton, Memorial Park.