Whanganui club rugby: Taihape second on premier table after win over Border
But having played hard games throughout the round, Taihape were conditioned for the tough stuff and took over in the second half to rattle off three straight tries, with Whale converting two of them, for a 26-13 turnaround with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Getting a big lift from their bench, which included regular starters, dotting down were incumbent Steelform Whanganui prop Gabriel Hakaraia, who came on behind his brother Te Uhi and skipper Hoani Woodhead in the front row, reserve outside back Ryan Karatau and reserve forward Isaiah Mātana.
Similar to Tāmata Hauhā Rātana in the Pa, Border managed to score near fulltime to at least secure what could be an important bonus point – reserve Rusiate Lalanabaravi getting a try which was duly converted.
Taihape's victory made it three wins from their past four visits to Waverley since 2022.
Also having reached the halfway point of their grade is the Tasman Tanning Senior teams, and the Border Seniors have now done something their Premier side hasn't – won a game on the field, as the home side secured a 35-14 victory over Bennett's Taihape to jump into the Top 8.
There are new competition leaders and a sole unbeaten team, as McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu did what they promised and pulled the high-flying Forest 360 Marist Knights into an honest country scrap – holding on for a 15-11 win.
The Whanganui Challenge Shield remains locked up at the Macnab Domain, but not without McCrea Scanning Counties having to work to keep up, beating bottom-of-the-table Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 22-10.
The Spriggens Park derby narrowly went the way of Direct Connect Marist Celtic, who held off Seales Winslow Pirates 24-19 while, after their slow start to the campaign, Utiku Old Boys rocketed up to fifth spot on the table after their third straight win, beating home side Kelso Hunterville 31-20.
Results, May 16-17
Tasman Tanning Premier
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 28 (Daniel Kauika, Te Heru Reu Koro, Brett Joyes, Cyprien Bernard, Lachlan Fisher tries; Kauika pen) bt Tāmata Hauhā Rātana 21 (Onewa Tai, Shade Tuaine-Whanau, Rangi Kui tries; Kui 2 pen). HT: 13-5.
Byfords Readimix Taihape 26 (Tremaine Gilbert, Gabriel Hakaraia, Ryan Karatau, Isaiah Mātana; Chad Whale 3 con) bt Waverley Harvesting Border 20 (Romu Senileba, Rusiate Lalanabaravi tries; Tyrone Albert 2 pen, 2 con). HT: 13-7 Border.
Tasman Tanning Senior
Dallison Park: Border bt Bennett's Taihape 35-14.
Rochfort Park: McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu bt Forest 360 Marist Knights 15-11.
Macnab Domain - Whanganui Challenge Shield: McCrea Scanning Counties bt Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 22-10.
Spriggens Park: Direct Connect Marist Celtic bt Seales Winslow Pirates 24-19.
Hunterville Domain: Utiku Old Boys bt Kelso Hunterville 31-20.
Tasman Tanning Women
Hunterville Domain: Heidi Macaulay Realty Bulls bt Hunterville 29-22.
Marton Park: AGC Training Marist Clovers bt Marton Queenbeez by default.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Whanganui club rugby: Taihape's young squad eyes crucial wins for quarter-final spot
Brought to you by Whanganui Rugby The young guns of Bennett's Taihape want to build on a proud club legacy as the race for premium Tasman Tanning Senior quarter-final positions is coming down to the wire. Taihape have had a tough row to hoe so far in 2025 with a
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Whanganui rugby: Kaierau remain unbeaten with win over Border
In truth, neither team played as clutch in the big moments that they would have liked – Kaierau missing two other first-half kick chase tries with in-goal fumbles, while in the space of 60 seconds from the 69th minute, both sides gave up tries from intercepts trying to be expansive near their posts to the centres in Ethan Robinson for Kaierau and Border's Alekesio Vakarorogo. But the passion was there – Kaierau may have been shy of backs but got home on some great tryline defence, holding up Border twice, while their forwards' line speed to get up and wrap some jarring hits never wavered. Hooker and try-scorer Joe Edwards gave a committed 80-minute effort, while lock Matt Ashworth was in everything. Reserves Josefa Rokotakala, Kohlt Coveny and Tai Pulemagafa delivered in the final quarter, as the Kaierau pack drove up Border's 50m scrum on the game's last play to bring about fulltime. Although Border played without injured skipper Ngapuke Patea, they welcomed back 55-game Heartland-capped midfielder Timoci 'Jim' Seruwalu, who, while short of a gallop, was always a handful. Flanker Ekenasio Fiso was dangerous in the first half, while standing out in their team's late comeback were reserves Sevanaia Vucinimoce up front and winger-turned halfback Peni Waqatabu. 'They brought it right from the word go, that was something we talked about at halftime,' said Kaierau coach Danny Tamehana. While Waitokia was moving freely at fulltime, Boult and Malo's status will need to be confirmed, as Tamehana considers how to plug multiple holes. 'I'm definitely going to be thinking about that come Monday, it's going to be a whole different backline, but we'll see what happens.' Despite the backline injuries, the forwards were strong even without absent skipper Doug Horrocks, Tamehana praising the reserves for holding back Border's momentum to the finish. 'It's something we spoke about during the week; they brought the energy and the impact, so that was really pleasing to see the bench work real well.' Border co-coach Todd Cowan knows that even with 12 new players this season, the winless streak must end soon. 'I think we're building okay, maybe not getting scoreboard wins, but we are getting wins out there as far as some improvement every week. 'I think the intensity today was definitely a level up from the week previous against Taihape. 'A pretty tough encounter, a few guys look like they're a little bit sore, but I think we'll be right, get back into things on Wednesday and into the next game.'
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Whanganui rugby: Marist extend streak in thriller
Marist halfback Daniel Kauika had another big match with two tries plus a conversion and a penalty, while fullback and backup kicker Te Heru Reu Koro also added a conversion. The other tries came from Marist's in-form lock Rongomai McLean-Wanoa and winger Shaun O'Leary. Taihape picked up a couple of yellow cards which hurt their chances, but they also got an automatic seven-point penalty try. Their player-provided tries came from hooker Tru Ratana-Horton and reserve forward Sam Reeves, while first-five Chad Whale converted both and landed a penalty. Continuing to lead the Tasman Tanning Senior unbeaten are McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu, who snapped Utiku Old Boys' three-game winning streak with a 31-17 win at Memorial Park. Second-placed Forest 360 Marist Knights dominated the big club derby with Direct Connect Marist Celtic 62-18. At the Country Club, Seales Winslow Pirates scored the last try to pull clear of Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 22-15 for a much-needed win to climb back up to sixth. McCrea Scanning Counties continued their firm grip on the Whanganui Challenge Shield after a no-nonsense 31-7 win over Border, in a bit of a reunion match with a couple of former Border Premier stars now with Counties facing their old mates. Border therefore fell back from the Top 8, as Kelso Hunterville leapfrogged them after a tough 22-22 draw at home against Bennett's Taihape. Results, May 23-24 Tasman Tanning Premier Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 27 (Daniel Kauika 2, Rongomai McLean-Wanoa, Shaun O'Leary tries; Kauika pen, con, Te Heru Reu Koro con) bt Byfords Readimix Taihape 24 (Tru Hay-Horton, Sam Reeves tries, penalty try; Chad Whale pen, 2 con). Barracks Challenge Shield - Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 24 (Te Rangatira Waitokia 2, Joe Edwards, Ethan Robinson tries; Sheldon Pakinga 2 con) bt Border 17 (Tom Symes 2, A Vakarorogo tries; Tyrone Albert con). HT: 7-0. Tasman Tanning Senior Hunterville Domain: Kelso Hunterville drew with Bennett's Taihape 22-22. Memorial Park: McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu bt Utiku Old Boys 31-17. Macnab Domain - Whanganui Challenge Shield: McCrea Scanning Counties bt Border 31-7. Spriggens Park: Forest 360 Marist Knights bt Direct Connect Marist Celtic 62-18. Kaierau Country Club: Seales Winslow Pirates bt Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 22-15. Tasman Tanning Women Memorial Park: Byfords Construction Taihape bt Hunterville 61-0. Bulls Domain: Heidi Macaulay Realty Bulls bt Marton Queenbeez 103-5.
