Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist proved the previous weekend’s upset of Waverley Harvesting Border was no fluke as they finished Tasman Tanning Premier’s first round in solid position with a 28-21 win in the Pa on Saturday.

Securing back-to-back victories for the first time since May of 2023, strong structure in the first half and a little attacking spontaneity in the second allowed Marist to take a comfortable lead that they never surrendered, despite now fifth-placed Tāmata Hauhā Rātana having some sustained periods on attack, including a try on fulltime to snatch what could prove a precious bonus point.

The game was still a somewhat scrappy affair, both sides losing players to the sinbin for professional fouls, but the visitors showed the historic win over Border had boosted their self-belief, especially on defence

Scoring five tries to three, although the kickers could not make them completely safe with only one from seven combined, Marist were looking for leaders and found them amongst some of their younger stars.

Halfback Daniel Kauika took over the captaincy from the injured Ben O’Leary, and despite taking a heavy ruck blow to the face that saw his eye nearly swelled shut, maintained strong game management.

Lock Rongomai Mclean-Wanoa set up tries for fullback Te Heru Reu Koro and reserve Ione Hough-Aki with excellent offloads, while stealing several throws from Rātana’s still somewhat brittle lineout.

Hooker Cyprien Bernard matched it well with Rātana up front and showed good speed to race out to the wing and score what proved the decisive second half try - set up by Mclean-Wanoa and reserve back Jamie Robertson, who in his departure game made a big impact, as his starting spot was taken over by the debuting Shaun O’Leary, former Collegiate 1st XV and Under 18’s representative captain.

Veterans CJ Stowers and try-scorer Brett Joyes put in a solid day’s work, although the latter had to be helped off with a leg injury in the third quarter.

For the home side, missing a couple of key players through injury, the game saw the welcome return back to the field of player-coach Jamie Hughes, the Steelform Whanganui incumbent coming on early in the first half.

Fullback Rangi Kui, facing his old club, kept his side in touch with a couple of long-range penalty kicks, and then went all-out to score in the corner on fulltime to bring in the bonus point, injuring his ankle in the tackle.

Having lifted up to third place on the table, Marist coach Steelie Koro was pleased to have buried the ghost of their 2024 loss on the same ground, which cost them a semifinal berth.

“That was something I just said to the boys – any win away from home is good, and coming out to the Pa, it is a different kettle of fish out here.

“A lot of us older players know that. It wasn’t a flash win, but we’ll take those ugly wins and learn from it, but it’s a good stepping stone.”

Koro praised his skipper’s effort, with Kauika’s eye closing rapidly after his early knock.

“He’s hard as nails, you’d have to prise him off the field - he won’t sub off.

“We got a few leaders capable of stepping into those captaincy roles, because he’s going to have to put his face in an ice bath I think.

“But that just goes to show the Mana he has for this club, the commitment he has to his rugby, because a lot of players would have looked to the sideline and said ‘get me off’.”

With three try assists and an excellent set piece performance, Mclean-Wanoa also deserved praise.

“He’s been a great player over the last couple of weeks with his ability to pick up loose forwards – he’s just about as fast as the wingers and he’s been huge in the lineouts.”

For Hughes on a personal level, he was happy enough with his comeback game.

“Went on a little earlier than I thought I was going to go on, but got through – good shift.”

Key for his side with a lot of young players is staying cool in the pressure moments.

“Just [conceding] penalties and last passes – dropping the last passes when it could have led to something else.

“Still proud of the boys today, especially the forward pack, a lot of young fellas as we had 3-4 injured out of last week’s game, sitting on the sideline.

“Hopefully a week off will be good for us. Hopefully we’re on for a good second round – hopefully everyone’s back and fit and good to go.”

Marist got the better of the early territory exchanges and a succession of free kicks had them in front of Rātana’s posts, where finally the latest offside saw flanker Te Orunui Wakefield sinbinned, with Hughes being his eventual replacement.

Although the home side forced a turnover and cleared, Marist were straight back to their business, and despite having taken his knock to the face, Kauika spied a gap off the breakdown following a crack at the line by No8 Te Hiiri Ponga, scooting through to score.

A Mclean-Wanoa lineout steal near halfway let Marist stifle Rātana’s momentum and go back on the attack, and after midfielder Tim Goodwin was stopped near the posts, the ball was transferred out and Mclean-Wanoa’s flick pass in the tackle found Te Heru Reu Koro, who twisted through the last line to make it 10-0.

A Kui chip kick being fumbled by Marist set up a rare attacking chance, and after several forwards hit the ball up towards the tryline, the ball was spread out to first-five Te Atawhai Mason, who pulled in both remaining cover tacklers and put winger Onewa Tai over untouched in the corner.

Marist stayed composed, working into the attacking half for Kauika to add three more points approaching halftime, although the visitors were stung when they lost Ponga to the sinbin just before the break.

After the resumption a storming breakout by Stowers brought Marist straight back down onto the attack, Kui pulling off a try-saving tackle, but from the breakdown Goodwin fed prop Finley Brown who put Joyes over in the corner for 18-5.

Needing traction while they still had a man advantage, Rātana once again got themselves down 

to the tryline, only to be turned back by good defence, but a succession of penalties eventually saw Kui step up to slot the kick, which he repeated shortly afterwards from longer range for 18-11 to put his side within striking distance.

But when an attempt to spread the ball near halfway saw a spill, Robertson swooped to put it on the toe, and then chase through to kick the ball again, with Mclean-Wanoa making a good pickup at speed to feed the ball back to Robertson, who fired it out for Bernard to score in the corner.

Although the visitors missed a penalty kick, they went straight back on the attack through a run by Robertson, with Mclean-Wanoa then ranging wide and dragging in three tacklers before offloading to Hough-Aki, who dived in league-style right at the corner for 28-11.

Having left their run too late, Rātana still wanted a strong finish to try and salvage a bonus point, and they started that run attacking off a series of penalties, the last of which saw Hughes take a quick tap and burrow at the ruck.

From the next phase, reserve prop Shade Tuaine-Whanau, a former Premier co-MVP award winner, powered his way over to score with time remaining.

A final attacking scum saw Rātana just feed the ball to Kui, who dashed full speed on an angled run to score in the corner, being unable to take the conversion due to his injury.

Marist 28 (D Kauika, T Koro, B Joyes, C Bernard, I Hough-Aki tries; Kauika pen) bt Rātana 21 (O Tai, S Tuaine-Whanau, R Kui tries; Kui 2 pen). HT: 13-5. 
 

By Jared Smith

Photo Credit Zoe Tofa