Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau have made another big statement in Tasman Tanning Premier as the only unbeaten side after a strong second half took them away from Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, 50-13 on Saturday.

The town derby game at the Country Club was always going to be keenly anticipated, with the Barracks Challenge Shield adding extra spice, and Marist struck first from a penalty scrum for fullback Carliwyn Riddles to get the ball down in the corner.

Kaierau replied when standout prop Raymond Salu made a half dummy and step near the line to dive across, converted by centre Ethan Robinson.

Marist first-five Wiremu Morgan replied with a long range penalty for 8-7, but a professional foul saw the visitors lose flanker Brett Joyes to the sin bin, and Kaierau found the gap as Salu fended his way through and offloaded for second-five Te Rangatira Waitokia to score and give his team the lead at halftime.

Play remained scrappy early in the second stanza, but then the decisive moment game with Kaierau fullback Adam Boult hared after a tactical ruck box kick from first-five Sheldon Pakinga, snatching it and clearing two defenders to join fellow former professional Waitokia in scoring his first try for the club, with Pakinga deservedly adding the extras.

Kaierau now looked to their deep bench, and after forcing a turnover inside Marist’s 22m the reserve forwards went the direct route towards the posts, with hooker Joe Edwards diving through for 26-8.

Waitokia spied some open space for an attacking chip kick, which he re-gathered and fired out for winger Ezra Malo to dash into the corner to extend the advantage.

Marist would not lie down, as following a penalty scrum win they attacked across the width and eventually hooker Atriane Marino drove through his tackler to score for 31-13.

But they would get no closer, as Kaierau just found their systems and lifted the tempo, with Boult scoring a double after cutting through from a backline spread out wide, and then after reserve winger Adrian Toia snaffled an attempted Marist clearance, his team quickly spread to the clubrooms corner for Waitokia to also get a double, Pakinga converting from touch.

The try to bring up 50 points was special, as a Robinson chip was claimed by Waitokia, who attacked deep into Marist territory, and then Malo’s cross kick was claimed in the air by Pakinga to score.

The big win would have been a tonic for the Kaierau faithful, who had watched the curtain-raiser from the Senior competition where Forest 360 Marist Knights ran riot against Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 83-0.

The Whanganui Challenge Shield was successfully defended for the first time this season at Macnab Domain, as McCrea Scanning Counties defeated the team which started the year with the prize in Kelso Hunterville 26-15.

There were some tough games up north, as undefeated McCarthy’s Transport Rupaehu held off Direct Connect Marist Celtic 24-19, while in the Memorial Park derby, Utiku Old Boys picked up their first win despite a late score by Bennett’s Taihape, 31-29.

Seales Winslow Pirates settled into the Top 4 after a 29-12 away victory over Border.

Results, May 2nd-3rd

Tasman Tanning Premier 

Barracks Challenge Shield - Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 50 (Te Rangatira Waitokia 2, Adam Boult 2, Raymond Salu, Joe Edwards, Ezra Malo, Sheldon Pakinga tries; Pakinga 4 con, Ethan Robinson con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 13 (Carliwyn Riddles, Atriane Marino tries; Wiremu Morgan pen). HT: 12-8.

Byfords Read-Mix Taihape 30 (Tremaine Gilbert, Mitchell Overton, Blake James tries, penalty try; Chad Whale 2 pen, con) bt Tāmata Hauhā Rātana 25 (Rangi Kui 2, Cody Hemi tries; Kui pen, 2 con, Brooklyn Herewini pen). HT: 15-13 Rātana.

Tasman Tanning Senior

Dallison Park: Seales Winslow Pirates bt Border 29-12.

Country Club: Forest 360 Marist Knights bt Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 83-0.

Memorial Park: Utiku Old Boys bt Bennett’s Taihape 31-29.

Macnab Domain - Whanganui Challenge Shield: McCrea Scanning Counties bt Kelso Hunterville 26-15.

Rochfort Park: McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu vs Direct Connect Marist Celtic 24-19.

Tasman Tanning Women

Cooks Gardens: Silks Audit Ratana bt Marton Queenbeez 94-5.

Cooks Gardens: AGC Training Marist Clovers bt Hunterville 88-0.

Memorial Park: Byfords Construction Taihape bt Heidi Macaulay Realty Bulls 48-10.
 

By Jared Smith