Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist had hoped to break some bad habits when it came to Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, but in the end they seceded derby supremacy for 2024 to their fellow Metro team, 34-16 at the Country Club on Saturday.

In a repeat of Spriggens Park in the first round, also an Old Timers and Sponsors day before a good crowd, Marist were right in it with Kaierau - trailing 17-16 with their hosts reduced to 14-men through a professional foul yellow card as the final quarter approached.

It could be said Marist were unlucky to be behind at all, as during a very stop-start first half where both sides looked to apply pressure and neither could build much structure, Marist had the better of the territory and possession.

Kaierau scored two tries from their speed on the fringes by chasing down attacking kicks – dynamic winger Junior Lalanabaravi getting one and then setting up the other for returning halfback Eben Claassen.

Each player got a double in the game, as Claassen also scored Kaierau’s opener with a ruck fringes sneak.

But when a succession of penalties allowed Marist second-five Wiremu Morgan to pop over three- pointers either side of halftime , while reserve back Ioane Hough scored after sustained pressure which saw Kaierau fullback Peceli Malancagi carded for not releasing, it appeared the visitors run of good form was continuing.

Instead, Kaierau’s playmakers sparked another fourth quarter derby blitz.

Having gained confidence from a sustained period of lateral attacks to get to Marist’s tryline before the string of penalties had them in trouble, first the cast-iron veteran Ace Malo showed what was possible with a brilliant no-look inside ball for acting skipper Ethan Robinson to slice Marist open and set up the eventual try for midfielder Sheldon Pakinga.

His job done, Malo then departed for Robinson to move from second-five to first receiver, and now with his blood up, the skipper made a succession of line breaks and scored a great try himself from a show- and-go near Marist’s line for a 12-point scoring burst while a man down.

In reply, Marist reverted to basic errors with missed lineouts, being in front on a restart, a succession of dropped tackles, and finally losing halfback Daniel Kauika to the sinbin for a similar professional foul to Malancagi when desperately defending his tryline.

Kaierau had depth on the bench again with prop Raymond Salu making his comeback late in the first half for another veteran in Lasa Ulukuta, and just like at Spriggens the Steelform Whanganui incumbent Salu began to break the line repeatedly.

It was great to see Joe Edwards come back on at No8 for his first match in one-and-half seasons, and finally Malancagi redeemed with the long ball for Lalanabaravi to dance around his marker and score with 11 minutes left and leave his team safe.

Marist had their moments – winger CJ Stowers showing strength to get the ball down and score early after a great offload by centre Akiwa Koro, while hooker-turned flanker Alesana Tofa was the one player who gave the hosts real concern with his attacking runs.

But even late in the game when searching for a consolation try, Marist made too many mistakes, even suffering the reversal of a penalty originally in their favour due to referee backchat, all of which meant coach Steelie Koro goes back to the drawing board.

“I don’t know what it is. It’s hard trying to find that balance - putting consistent games together.

“Like I said earlier, that break last week had that effect – whether it helps teams by good for injuries [recovery], but it can stop a bit of momentum there.”

Koro had wanted his team to lift for the second half, given it was only Kaierau’s track speed on the two kick-and-chase tries that had left them trailing.

“That’s the bounce of the ball, but I was telling our team, ‘we created enough opportunities to take advantage of it, but just didn’t recognise enough of it and take those chances’.

“In this level, you got to take what you can get, and I think the faster our young team can understand that, then we’ll be really good in that Top 4.”

After their tough loss last-up with Byford’s Readmix Taihape, Kaierau coach Danny Tamehana was pleased to see his players suddenly snap into their continuity at the business end of the game.

“It was actually quite weird, because when Peceli went to the bin, I think individuals there – especially Ethan – stepped up.

“Moving him into No10, getting his hands on the ball a bit more, just using a bit more space and time was mean.

“That [initial multi-phase play]was probably the turning point, where we played with a bit of width, and just held onto the pill a little bit, because that first half was stop-start and we couldn’t get into it.”

Tamehana was also delighted to welcome back the likes of Edwards after such a long layoff, as well as Salu and Claassen.

“That was cool, utilising the bench and seeing fellas coming in was really essential for us, and moving forwards towards hopefully the other end of the competition.

“Having these vital players will be crucial for our team.”

By Jared Smith

Kaierau 34 (E Claassen 2, J Lalanabaravi 2, S Pakinga, E Robinson tries; Robinson 2 con) bt Marist 16 (C Stowers, I Hough tries; W Morgan 2 pen). HT: 17-8.