Byford Readimix Taihape remain the kings of clutch in WRFU Division 1 after once again coming from behind to defeat Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, 31-29 under lights at the Country Club on Friday.

The rematch of the 2025 Premier final, Kaierau had accepted Taihape’s request to play the fixture on Friday evening to alleviate the pressure of fielding full squads across both Division 1 and their Division 2 game on Saturday, due to injuries and school holiday absences.

Early on, it appeared to be a repeat of the previous 2024 night rugby game which Kaierau won 27-22, especially when Taihape experienced horrible deju-vu in the second half with the ankle injury to impressive young prop Taylor Hay-Martin, similar to how they lost club stalwart Slade Hay-Horton that evening.

Instead, a side fielding both their main coaches in veterans Sefo Bourke and Tremaine Gilbert, and led by the determination of their loose forwards, a barnstorming effort from second-five Cyrus Tasi and the steady hands of first-five Dane Whale, snatched the lead with a charge-down try in the 76th minute and withheld Kaierau’s final surge deep into their 22m to make it two late victories in two games.

Acting skipper and openside flanker Jack Kinder was the willing recipient of the 5m charge down to catch the ball and dive over beside the posts, but it was his blindside partner Beau Walker who deserved highest praise for his outstanding work-rate – receiving player of the day recognition from both teams.

Like a diesel engine that just grinds opposition down, especially through the midfield, Taihape managed to get a tiring Kaierau with their new-look playmaker group to move away from the high speed ruck recycles and immediate transfers to the fringes where they saw so much success, especially in the first half to lead 24-12.

Evergreen winger CJ Stowers justified his return from the Division 2-based Pirates club to dash in for a hat-trick of tries, while new lock Edward Erskine impressed around the ruck with strong carries and short offloads to keep defenders guessing.

The home side was without new skipper Sheldon Pakinga, so instrumental in the 2024 night game with his tactical kicking, and so the captaincy was split between prop Raymond Salu, who also took on the lineout throws, and halfback Cody Mitchell, the 2025 Steelform Whanganui import now coming in as a local player.

With assistant coach Brooke Tremayne covering first-five but not at 100 per cent, Mitchell had the courage to take on some goal-kicking responsibilities despite never having had the role in a competitive fixture before - coming close to snatching the game back for Kaierau with a long-range 78th minute penalty that just drifted wide.

Second-five Nemia Adrole, whose time playing league in Australia has built up his strength, and new midfield partner Mitai Hemi both scored tries in a ding-dong battle with Tasi and his try-scoring partner Tiari Mumby, with Kaierau barely missing out on further tries which would have made them safe before Kinder’s match-winner.

“We were sort of backs against the wall a little bit tonight, just with a few injuries from last week and a few fellas unavailable,” said a tired but proud Bourke at fulltime.

“We had a couple of guys from our senior team who we thought really stepped up, brought a lot of energy from off the bench, but some of our leaders were really, really awesome.”

With a larger and longer club season in 2026, Bourke knows the ability to close out wins late in games will prove crucial, given they just beat newcomers Counties the week before with a last-minute try.

“I think Counties, just like these [Kaierau] fellas with some of their guys that have left and others that have come in, it’s going to be tight like this every week with every team.

“It means the comp’s competitive, and anyone can win it on the day.”

Kaierau coach Danny Tamehana had to credit that while it was a much higher scoring game than the 2025 final, Taihape once again stopped Kaierau searching for the width and invited them to get physical up the middle, tailor-made for the country boys.

“I think we fell into their trap, let them play their game. Once we’re in their half we’re a really good side and we’re hard to stop.

“I think we spent half of that second half in our 22m when we should have been kicking out on our terms, but back to the drawing board.

“It’s only early so that’s the good thing about it, the team’s going good, we probably should have put them away in the first half – we missed a couple of tries where we should have gone wider rather than having a go ourselves.”

With an earlier campaign start and games every weekend, with the exception of one bye each in Division 1’s first round, Tamehana agreed his team like others needs to take fitness work seriously, because when his fresh players were in full flight during the first half Taihape struggled to contain them.

“I think that’s going to be a huge part for most teams actually - the conditioning is going to be the key to get to the other end, and if we get fully fit, just like everyone else, there will be some good rugby out there.”

The visitors struck first at the Country as following a penalty scrum, Tasi’s charge was stopped right at the line, with the ruck ball quickly sent to Hay-Martin at first receiver to crash across.

It didn’t take long for Kaierau to switch into gear, as an Erskine line break was followed up for the ball to travel through the hands to Stowers to dash in at the corner.

Taihape were quick to follow up, again off penalty set piece, as from a 5m lineout the forwards got the drive on for hooker Jaye Flaws to get a good ride at the back and then dive short side for the try, Whale converting for 12-5 in the 14th minute.

But from here, Kaierau got into their rhythm as following a succession of surges and ruck penalties, props Tai Pulemagafa and Salu attacked off the quick tap, attracting multiple tacklers to stop them, and drole got the pass to burrow in under the last defender, with Mitchell taking the ball-boy’s wise advice on his kicking line to nail the difficult conversion.

Another quick tap by flanker Bonefasio Tabuanivalu saw Erskine transfer the ball wide to Tremayne, followed by Hemi, and then Stowers with steps and fends beat three tacklers again score out wide.

A Salu bust right through the middle of the park had Taihape again struggling to get back, with the ball going wide for Hemi to sprint away to the posts, Tremayne adding the straight-forward extras.

Hemi was stopped only inches short of a double off an Adrole grubber kick, with Taihape having to work hard to relieve the pressure before halftime.

Knowing they needed to be next scorers, Taihape responded in the 51st minute as Gilbert made a strong carry towards the tryline, and then halfback Tyrese Payne made a quick blindside dart and produced a beautiful reverse flick pass for the lurking Mumby, who twisted through his tackler to score.

Taihape then equalised through a Kaierau-like try after the home side dropped the ball on a breakout inside their half, as the visitors swiftly transferred out to the far side for winger Adrian Crawford to beat his man and dive in at the corner flag, Whale’s pressure sideline conversion dropping right over the cross-bar for 24-24.

Stunned to have lost the momentum, Kaierau responded well as following an offside penalty, Adrole attacked the line for the forwards to work into good position, and with defenders stretched, Adrole again fed Stowers with an open line to put the hosts back ahead with 15 minutes left.

But as reflects their championship pedigree, Taihape never quit, and with five minutes to go they had Kaierau trapped in their 15m, looking to carry out, and when Tremayne got a ruck pass without a screen he found three defenders charging at him, his clearing kick taking a deflection that fell right to Kinder to dive across, Whale slotting the vital kick.

Taihape 31 (T Hay-Martin, J Flaws, T Mumby, A Crawford, J Kinder tries; D Whale 3 con) bt Kaierau 29 (C Stowers 3, N Adrole 2 tries; C Mitchell con, B Tremayne con). HT: 24-12.

By Jared Smith