Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist’s outstanding resurgence continues in Tasman Tanning Premier after racking up a fourth-straight win, beating a much depleted Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 47-24 at Spriggens Park.

The centrepiece game of Marist club day on Saturday, the Premiers reversed their 50-13 loss to the full-strength Kaierau in May, as they have now beaten all teams in the same season for the first time in recent memory.

After halfback Daniel Kauika opened the home team’s account with a penalty, the visitors then received a yellow card for their halfback Josh Edwards, the 42-year-old former Steelform Whanganui representative coming back to help out the club’s backline injury crisis.

But Kaierau scored after a strong run by prop Raymond Salu set up first-five Brook Tremayne chip kicking wide, as winger Jordyn Leiasmaivao-Turvey re-gathered for fullback Ethan Robinson to score in the corner.

Marist replied from an attacking scrum as they worked forward and pulled in defenders, before spreading to winger CJ Stowers unmarked in the corner, with Kauika making a fine conversion for 10-5.

Kaierau’s reply was not long in coming as a 5m scrum of their own saw No8 Joe Edwards go close, and two rucks later prop Tai Pulemagafa was burrowing in to score, second-five Ezra Malo converting to put them in front.

A Kaierau spill inside their half proved costly as lock Marist Ben O’Leary offloaded to Kauika to run into the gap, stopped just short but popping the ball up to prop Jonty Bird for a seven-pointer.

Kaierau struck back with the equalising try as they claimed possession from the restart, and down the touchline flanker Asesela Derenalagi did a flick pass to Turvey, who showed great strength to score in the corner under the tacklers.

But penalties again cost Kaierau, as the sinbinning of lock Josefa Rokotakala while defending the tryline right before the break saw the Marist pack rumble across for a converted try at 24-17.

The home side kept the momentum going against 14 men at the resumption, as Kauika added another penalty, and then a line-break by Bird saw the ball sent to Stowers to power his way over in the corner.

A quick tap and break out by the backs saw talented centre Shaun O’Leary running behind the posts for a simple conversion, and then a third Kauika penalty led to a 42-17 blowout entering the final quarter.

Kaierau’s tough day got more miserable when Tremayne was sinbinned after further team warnings, and Marist immediately took advantage, as they spread both sides of the ruck and the red-hot Stowers finally stood up his chasing cover to score in the corner.

Marist had their turn for a yellow card late in the game when reserve prop Raponi Tofa was sent to cool his heels, and Kaierau worked forward to get a penalty scrum, running a play which saw centre Opetini Dryden reached out to score the bonus point try which kept his team ahead of Byfords Readimix Taihape on the table.

In Tasman Tanning Senior, the home quarterfinalists have all been confirmed with a round to spare, although the order could yet change, while there is a new owner of the Whanganui Rugby Challenge Shield.

Undefeated table leaders McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu will be eyeing up the season trophy double after they ended McCrea Scanning Counties six-match winning streak to lift the shield in a 22-21 thriller at Rochfort Park.

There was an upset at Memorial Park as the Border ‘Rack Pack’ surprised Utiku Old Boys with a 29-20 win, getting themselves back to that precious eighth place.

Dropping out of the Top 8 were a gutted Bennett’s Taihape, who all-but secured an upset of their own against Direct Connect Marist Celtic, who scored off the last play to snatch a priceless 13-12 win on what would be a clean sweep weekend for their club.

Forest 360 Marist Knights did their club-mates a favour with a big 41-12 win over Seales Winslow Pirates in the Spriggens Park derby, as Pirates and Utiku losing means Celtic are now uncatchable in fourth place.

The best those two teams can now finished is fifth place, which would at least keep them away from the dominant Ruapehu and Knights, while the battle is on for the Bottom 4 teams to see if one of them can pull an upset in the final round and at the same time hope the others are beaten.

Kelso Hunterville has the slight upper hand in seventh place after they consigned Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau to the bottom of the table with a 29-15 home win at their Domain.

Results, June 6th–7th 

Tasman Tanning Premier 

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 47 (CJ Stowers 3, Jonty Bird, Shaun O’Leary, Unknown tries; Daniel Kauika 3 pen, 4 con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 24 (Ethan Robinson, Tai Pulemagafa, Jordyn Leiasmaivao-Turvey, Opetini Dryden tries; Ezra Malo 2 con) HT: 24-17.

Byfords Readimix Taihape 34 (Teihana Brown 2, Jack Kinder 2, Kaleb Sweet, Tiari Mumby tries; Dane Whale 2 con) bt Tāmata Hauhā Rātana 12 (Taylor Kirkwood, Mitai Hemi tries; Rehimana Meihana con). HT: 12-10 Rātana.

Tasman Tanning Senior

Rochfort Park – Challenge Shield: McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu bt McCrea Scanning Counties 22-21.

Spriggens Park: Forest 360 Marist Knights bt Seales Winslow Pirates 41-12.

City College: Direct Connect Marist Celtic bt Bennett’s Taihape 13-12.

Hunterville Domain: Kelso Hunterville bt Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 29-15.

Memorial Park: Border bt Utiku Old Boys 29-20.

Tasman Tanning Women

Hunterville Domain: AGC Training Marist Clovers bt Hunterville 70-12.

Bulls Domain: Byfords Construction Taihape bt Heidi Macaulay Realty Bulls 49-15.

Marton Park: Silks Audit Rātana bt  Marton Queenbeez 136-0.

 

By Jared Smith