It will be interesting to see if youth comes to the fore when Byfords Read-Mix Taihape hosts the unbeaten Tāmata Hauhā Rātana at Memorial Park on Saturday.

This third weekend of the Tasman Tanning Premier competition matches up two promising first-fives who could each become the player to build the Steelform Whanganui team around in coming years.

Te Atawhai Mason, a former Collegiate 1st XV player who played Manawatu Development XV level, helped spark a remarkable comeback in the Pa last weekend for Rātana to draw 43-43 with five-time champions Waverley Harvesting Border.

Running the cutter for Taihape is Chad Whale, a cousin of the three Whale brothers to play for Whanganui, who has starred for the Heartland Hurricanes Under 20’s and last season the NZ Heartland Under 20’s.

Taihape won’t have the Barracks Challenge Shield to defend, having surrendered it last weekend to Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 38-26, but the inter-club Whenuaroa Shield will be at stake. 

Having played in four Premier finals since 2019, when they won it, Taihape were the only side to defeat the dominant Border last year, at both times of asking, and split their games with the returning Rātana – losing 6-5 in the Pa and then winning 45-29 at Memorial Park.

But mounting injuries took a toll, leading to a semifinal loss to Kaierau, and Taihape coach Sefo Bourke faced similar personnel issues last weekend.

“We’ve just been struggling just for a real solid bench, had a few guys unavailable and a few guys injured, especially from the Marist game [in Week 1].

“We went into the Kaierau game not as deep on the bench as we’d like - the reason why Tremaine [Gilbert] had to play off the bench.

“I think, in the end, that’s what got us as well as their fast start and our poor start.”

After years of the Taihape pack being propped up by the Hay-Horton brothers, with Hadlee Hay-Horton remaining in Hawke’s Bay as part of the Magpies squad, Taihape have been reinforced by two other siblings in the Hakaraia’s - 55-game Whanganui rep Gabriel and former Development XV and Maori rep Te Uhi, transferring from McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu.

“They’ve been an awesome edition, obviously Gabe again, but him bringing Te Uhi and Jack Kinder,” said Bourke of the talented flanker.

“He’s made his way down too, just to play Prem footy. That’s the reason, to put their foot forward, and look to higher honours with Whanganui.”

Taihape’s other experienced men include Peter-Travis Hay-Horton, Matt Brown and Hoani Woodhead in the pack, backed by Tyler Rogers-Holden, Tiari Mumby and Cyrus Tasi out wide.

Great servant Luke Whale is assisting Bourke and Gilbert as a backs coach, as his knee injury during the warm-up for Whanganui’s game against King Country last October has not come right.

Interestingly, after returning to his home club from Marton late last season, former Whanganui captain Dane Whale remains on the reserves bench.

“We just want to develop Chad into the player we think he can be – definitely got a lot of natural talent there – but just his game management stuff he needs to work on, especially for us,” said Bourke.

“We’ve got Dane there as a backup at the moment, Dane’s just easing his way back into footy.

“His experience, he offers a lot, off the bench gives us really good cover in most of the backline positions.”

That backline will have to work hard to contain the likes of Rātana’s Mason, fullback Rangi Kui, and young skipper Brooklyn Herewini.

But Bourke fancies the prospects of his own bolters as well.

“Young Hamuera Raukawa on the wing has played two really, really good games – he got a really good try against Kaierau which kept us in the game.

“Another man coming through from the seniors, Saul Abernethy, he’s just battling away with a knee injury.

“So, a really exciting group, maybe three or four guys coming through, sort of same age as Chaddy.

“We mix them in with those guys that have been there for a little while now.”

Draw

May 3rd, 2.35pm kickoffs

Taihape vs Rātana Memorial Park; Kaierau vs Marist, Country Club (Challenge Shield).

By Jared Smith