For the second year in a row, the Tasman Tanning Senior champion is the previous season’s runnerup and they likewise beat an undefeated team to do it as Forest 360 Marist Knights grabbed the silverware on Saturday.

The Knights avenged their May loss to McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu and showed they had learned from 2024’s narrow grand final defeat to Utiku Old Boys by staying linked and focused, pulling away for a 40-17 triumph at Cooks Gardens.

Playing in dryer conditions that the Tasman Tanning Premier playoff would experience right afterwards, the Knights were able to move the ball with more impunity and struck first through their man-of-the-match prop Temesi Vurakania drove under the posts to score in the 13th minute, with fullback Joey Devine converting after previously pushing a penalty wide.

A Ruapehu chip kick led to a penalty for fullback Chrissy Winter to slot, and then he was away with a longer range attempt as the unbeaten northern side began to get some momentum.

Winger Tahatika Te Riaki has made a habit of scoring against the Knights and he was on again after a great run down the touchline saw him find support players, and although they were stopped at the tryline, the ripped ball flew back up to Te Riaki’s hands for a converted try and 10-7 turnaround after 25 minutes.

Knights responded with an almost carbon copy of their first try, working to the line with standout No8 Brandon Burberry pulling in multiple defenders to stop him scoring, for a quick ruck transfer to Vurakania to reach out and score a seven-pointer.

Burberry then produced an excellent short pass to hit centre Epeli Delasau in the gap, and he falling in the tackle he shovelled the pass on to second-five Xavier Halpin to dive across and give Knights the initiative back.

What proved the two decisive moments of the game occurred in last two minutes of the first half.

Trailing 19-10, Ruapehu attacked down the short side and flanker Taipari Wirepa beat a defender but landed on his back on the tryline, being unable to rotate to score before Knights held the ball up.

From the goal-line dropout, the Knights regained possession at a ruck and lock Lucas Reardon made a breakout run, with the Knights transferring the ball to each side before winger Kuliasi Ligaitamana found the gap, passing the ball off the ground to Delasau and in turn getting the back from him after he was tackled to power over near the sticks for a crucial 26-10 halftime lead.

The Knights didn’t let up after the resumption as first-five Chris Ferguson sent a wide pass to Devine, who spread to Ligaitamana who produced a beautiful in-and-away serve to dive across untouched in the 46th minute.

Ruapehu’s chances took a further blow when their forwards were held up at the tryline twice, and when Knights’ standout flanker Isaac Jordan hacked away a spilled pass, second-five and skipper Kahl Elers-Green made a late tackle, receiving a yellow card.

Devine then followed up a short-side ruck run by Delasau to power through two tacklers and run under the posts for an easy kick to complete a 15-point personal haul in the 65th minute.

The game gone at 40-10, Ruapehu earned some consolation as reserve back Kieran McPherson made a strong break, and after his team received two penalties to work further forward, reserve Jaydis Hammond ran off a short ball from lock Ben Waiwai to dive under the posts.

Knights lost reserve Ben Dowman to an infringement yellow card, but Ruapehu could get no closer on the scoreboard, again being stopped at the line, before Marist cleared their area and Devine even tried an ambitious 55m penalty kick just before fulltime.

“I was really happy, right from the start they trusted the game-plan, stuck to the game-plan – Joey’s kicking was brilliant, playing the territory, so I was really proud of them,” said coach Sean Ferguson.

While Vurakania was deserved player of the day, Ferguson reserved special praise for his skipper Burberry for an outstanding performance.

“He leads by example, the boys love to follow him. Everything he does whether it’s tackling or carrying.

“Today, I thought he was really composed, he led well.”

With a winning record of 24-2 in the last two seasons, the Knights are now likely to test themselves in the Premier division in 2026.

“The feeling is there. I hope they do stick together and they carry on up, because they’re a good group of lads,” said Ferguson.

Ruapehu could be on a similar journey, with coach Chris Winter proud of the team’s development in the past two years back in Senior.

“Everyone’s home grown, we’re all family, no real outsiders.

“It was a big effort from the boys and it came down to little moments.

“ I don’t take anything away from our boys – they played with a bit of spirit and didn’t give up, which is awesome.”

Marist Knights 40 (T Vurakania 2, K Ligaitamana 2, X Halpin, J Devine tries; Devine 5 con) bt Ruapehu 17 (T Te Riaki, J Hammond tries; C Winter pen, 2 con). HT: 26-10.

 

By Jared Smith