They had a very disappointing month of April, but it has been an Indian summer in May for the Black Bull Liquor Pirates, who are now rolling on the WRFU Senior competition’s high seas.

Wanganui Pirates Rugby and Sports Club had fully intended to provide the seventh team in an expanded Tasman Tanning Premier competition for 2024, coming back to the grade where they won two championships in the mid-2010’s.

However, being unable to confirm a full squad meant they had to step away at the last minute, leading to the further departure of a handful of players to other Premier teams, and then three games into the Senior competition season they were sitting dead last on the table with a points differential of -87.

It did not help the rebuilding team ran into some of the powerhouses of the grade first up in the form of Kelso Hunterville (43-7), Utiku Old Boys (36-12) and the-then Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield holders McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu (27-0).

But help was on the horizon as clubman Johnny Mow was finally able to secure the services of a cohort of Fijian players, slotting in and around some of the standout veterans who have held the team together since the 2020 ‘Covid’ season.

The improvement was immediate - Pirates heading to the Pa and emerging with a 29-10 win over Tāmata Hauhā Rātana Brotherhood.

They then backed that up with a 29-7 victory over Border Seniors at City College, and got to play some really attractive, although not flawless, attacking rugby in their 45-10 away victory over JJ Walters Asphalt Marton last weekend.

Pirates went on the express elevator up to fifth place, a good spot in a season where there will be
quarterfinals. “We’ve made a big turnaround since [the start], getting awesome numbers at training, going back to basics, working on defence,” said coach Matt Davis.

“Influx of Fijian boys...they’ve just changed it, and all our own boys, the boys I’ve had for a few years, have come back.

“We’re teaching our boys to play that Islander role – that Fijian style.

“If you’ve got a team full of Fijians, you might as well teach the rest.

“Our midfield’s strong at the moment.”

Davis praised hooker and captain Josh Callaghan as being the glue that held it all together as the
reinforced squad became accustomed to each other.

Fellow veterans in fullback Lenny Matapuku, former Steelform Whanganui prop Brett Turner and
halfback/assistant coach Ricky Boniface continue to be important cogs in the machine.

Pirates will now host McCrea Scanning Counties on Friday night in a rescheduled game under lights at Cooks Gardens, with the visitors also picking up their first win last weekend, 30-12 away to Border.

“That will boost their confidence,” said Davis.

“If we can get a good win this week, we can have a good crack at the [Marist] Knights.”

By Jared Smith

Photo Credit Marton Rugby & Sports Club

The Senior draw May 24 -

Pirates vs Counties, Cooks Gardens, 7.15pm
Kaierau vs Ruapehu, Country Club, 7.30pm

May 25, 1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change):

Celtic vs Marton, Spriggens Park
Utiku Old Boys vs Ratana, Memorial Park
Hunterville vs Knights, Hunterville Domain
Taihape vs Border, Memorial Park