The east vs west rivalry of Tasman Tanning Premier still burns brightly as the Whanganui Rugby Challenge Shield has a new home at the clubrooms across from Memorial Park.

With their backs to the wall, Byford’s Readimix Taihape rose to the moment to end table leaders Waverley Harvesting Border’s unbeaten run with a tremendous defensive effort at the death to avoid the heartbreak experienced in their past two games and hang on 17-14 in a scoreless second half.

Putting bodies on the line right at the tryline chalk, Taihape denied Border’s storming finish and held up their highly regarded ball-runners – the visitors turning down kickable penatlies to save the shield and continuing to attack the line.

It appeared Border had saved themselves when first their hard-charging second-five Timoci Seruwalu drove through bodies into the in-goal, and then from a goal-line dropout, hard-working captain Angus Middleton leapt to charge the ball down and dove on it right at the dead ball line.

Held up, and the ball going dead were the official calls, and while Border continued to take taps and scrums in the hope that Seruwalu or his try-scoring partner Alekesio Vakarorogo could make the decisive break through, repeated lost ball under pressure coming into contact decided the issue.

Taihape’s forwards worked themselves into the ground – getting half a dozen priceless turnovers inside their half, although they also gave up a few penalties as well.

The scoreboard clock ticking down saw their pre-match hopes of just putting in a good performance become overtaken by the return of the passion seen in multiple Cooks Gardens finals.

It had been a surreal sight to see a Taihape team take the field without a Hay-Horton brother as 2024 skipper Peter Travis Hay-Horton was injured an only on emergency standby for the bench.

Therefore, former captain Matt Brown dusted off the boots and went 80 minutes at lock in an inspiring performance – as did the hard-working flankers in try-scorer Beau Walker and player’s player of the day Sam Reeves.

Out wide, second-five Cyrus Tasi ran just as hard at Seruwalu and Vakarorogo as they did at him, and despite being rocked by one tackle he kept getting up to shut them down – as did veteran  centre Luke Whale, who also got across constantly to cut down returning 2023 midfielder Silio Waqalevu on the wing – Border now having a Fijian triple threat of speed and power on the edges.

One boot-laces tackle by Walker on influential Border No8 Josefa Namosimalua also proved decisive as the rampaging loose-forward had a slight limp after that and wasn’t quite as effective – his stunning solo first-half try from the back of an attacking lineout showing what a weapon he can be.

Taihape’s chances were helped immeasurably by the return of try-scorer Tyler Rogers-Holden at both fullback and taking the captaincy, setting the platform, while halfback Kahl Elers-Green also brought composure and got a couple of crucial intercepts at first-receiver to deny Border’s midfielders the ball.

The visitors are still missing veteran halfback Lindsay Horrocks with a hand injury, perhaps the veteran would have suggested popping over the score-tying penalty when there was still 6-7 minutes left to make the shield safe before having a crack at the win.

But Border stuck with what they know by setting plays for their ball-runners, but found exhausted but determined Taihape defenders flying at them from all angles.

“We shouldn’t be putting ourselves in those positions but we hung in there,” said co-coach Cole Baldwin

“We hung tough, we knew they’d be desperate, after a tough month.

“It’s a good reality check for us, where we’re really at, so now we just get into the second round and
look to work harder.

“Everyone’s going to get better, and we’ve got to make sure that we keep improving as well, and if we can do that, we’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the year.

“Taihape played well, so you got to give them a bit of credit.”

With head coach Sefo Bourke away, former coach Tom Wells made himself available and no doubt took tremendous satisfaction from a victory over the old foes.

Assistant coach Tremaine Gilbert had been right in the thick of it from No8, and was delighted after the succession of losses that his boys found ‘it’ against the four-time defending champions.

“It’s good to be able to finally put an 80 minute performance on the board, it’s always going to be a
physical battle against Border.

“They’ve been our rival for the last 6-7 years maybe now, so it’s always one of those competitive games, especially up here.

“We want to keep our home base intact, unfortunately it didn’t happen last week, but to have Border as the scalp for this round is pleasing.”

After playing some good phase rugby in the first half - recycles and carries leading to Walker’s try to regain the lead just before halftime – Taihape’s stonewall defence in the final 10 minutes was all heart.

“It’s sort of something we’ve been missing the last couple of weeks,” said Gilbert.

“We had a bit of an honesty session on Tuesday, and just seemed to turn the corner a bit I think with attitudes and a bit of extra effort with the boys, so very pleasing.”

The home side showed today could be a different day as after absorbing an early Border attack, they made a set move from a scrum near their 22m and Whale broke straight through.

He found Rogers-Holden in support, who in turn gave Reeves a clear run at the posts, but the young loosie slipped over – showing the presence of mind to immediately pop the ball back up to his surprised skipper to score, with an easy conversion for winger Aaron Chapman.

Border struck back in the 21 st minute when from a scrum they spread to Waqalevu, who beat his man and took off, finding fullback Nick Harding in support, who fed Vakarorogo to stand up the cover defence and score near the posts.

The scores weren’t tied for long as after winger Tiari Mumby and prop Gabriel Hakaraia had a strong surge at the line, Taihape went back for the penalty and Chapman did the honours.

Namosimalua’s try was a joy to watch as he took off from the back and swerved in and out of tacklers to score to give Border the advantage with seven minutes left in the half.

But again, Taihape didn’t wilt, getting into position where Mumby had a couple of cracks, followed by lock Mitch Overton, hooker Tru Ratana-Horton and Walker.

Walker then took another pick, and twisted through a hard tackle to get the ball down beside the posts in the 39 th minute.

That would be the end of the scoring, but by no means the drama, through a tense second half.

By Jared Smith

Taihape 17 (T Rogers-Holden, B Walker tries; A Chapman pen, 2 con) bt Border 14 (A Vakarorogo, J
Namosimalua tries; T Albert 2 con). HT: 17-14.