Latest news with #WhanganuiChallengeShield
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- Sport
- 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.
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Whanganui club rugby: Undefeated Marist and Rātana clash in women's showdown
In the earlier matchup, Rātana fullback Carrie Rennie had a massive game with four tries and three conversions for a 26-point haul, while first-five Armani Martin scored 19 points from a try and seven conversions. Doubles came from flanker Te Amorangi Karaitiana and winger Lee Arna Nepia. However, there was a cheer for the Queenbeez' first points of the campaign, with winger Farren Rowe scoring a try. It sets up a big Saturday for the Queenbeez, who have their best chance of an inaugural win in the competition when they host the newcomers Heidi Macaulay Realty Bulls, who will be looking to do the same. Bulls lost last week at Memorial Park to defending champions Byfords Construction Taihape 48-10, with Taihape's former Black Fern Ruth McKay scoring two tries at hooker. Marist had to play Hunterville without their inspirational prop Lavenia Nauga-Grey, who joined club-mate Talawadua in becoming a fully-fledged international player. Nauga-Grey came off the bench for the Fijiana in their test match against Australia in Suva on Saturday, with the Wallaroos winning their first-ever game in Fiji, 43-7. Draw May 8: Marist vs Rātana, Cooks Gardens, 6.30pm May 9: Marton vs Bulls, Marton Park, 1pm. Hunterville def to Taihape. Senior competition They can be the Jekyll and Hyde team of Tasman Tanning Senior, but when the crew of Seales Winslow Pirates are on song, you underestimate them at your peril. Beaten seventh-placed quarter-finalists last year by eventual champions Utiku Old Boys, Pirates got payback on that game in the opening round this season, shocking their hosts 20-17 at Memorial Park. Expectations had to be tempered in Week 2 after a heavy 53-12 loss at Spriggens Park to contenders McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu, but the team righted themselves last weekend with a 29-12 away win over Border at Dallison Park. It sets up a big clash on Saturday for the Whanganui Challenge Shield with holders McCrea Scanning Counties. 'That Border game was a bit scrappy, just because we had a few new boys playing, we just gave them a run and it got a bit messy,' said Pirates coach Matt Davis. 'But this week, we'll put our best team on the field because Counties look like they're a pretty good team. 'We've got a couple of cups on the line – we've got a local one that's played between Counties and Pirates that we play for every year.' Like last year, Pirates will look to bring in some noteworthy Fijian talent, but currently two of them are hurt among other regulars having to sit out. 'We haven't really had the same team every week, we've got a couple of injuries to key players at the moment,' said Davis. Advertise with NZME. 'We're sort of down on the Fijian [numbers of] boys – they're still out of town, but we're getting good numbers – it's just those injuries are hurting us at the moment. 'We're still trying to play that flair style, but it's just a bit hard at the moment, we don't really have the cattle to do it, but we're still trying.' Eager to get their hands on the Shield, Pirates want to set themselves up to become a Top 4 team and earn a home quarterfinal. They are skippered once again by hooker Josh Callaghan, while young flanker Tatara Cook continues to impress. Prop Uriah Toru has scored two tries, while backing up the front row on the bench is the evergreen war horse Brett Turner, 24 caps for Steelform Whanganui and a Meads Cup winner. 1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change): May 9: Hunterville vs Ruapehu, Memorial Park (7pm)
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Whanganui club rugby: Kaierau remain unbeaten with dominant 50-13 win over Marist
The play remained scrappy early in the second stanza, but then the decisive moment came when Kaierau fullback Adam Boult hared after a tactical ruck kick from first five Sheldon Pakinga, snatching it and clearing two defenders to score, Pakinga deservedly adding the extras. Kaierau now looked to their deep bench and, after forcing a turnover inside Marist's 22m, the reserve forwards went the direct route, with hooker Joe Edwards diving under the posts for 26-8. Waitokia spied some open space for an attacking chip kick, which he regathered and fired out for winger Ezra Malo to dash into the corner. Marist would not lie down. Following a penalty scrum win, they attacked across the width and eventually hooker Atriane Marino drove through his tackler to score for 31-13. But they would get no closer, as Boult cut through to score a double and then, after reserve winger Adrian Toia snaffled an attempted Marist clearance, his team quickly spread to the clubrooms corner for Waitokia to also get a double, Pakinga converting from the touchline. The try to bring up 50 points was special as a Robinson chip was grabbed by Waitokia, who attacked deep into Marist territory, and then Malo's cross-kick was claimed in the air by Pakinga to score. It was a different story in the curtain-raiser from the senior competition as Forest 360 Marist Knights ran riot against Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau, winning the contest 83-0. The Whanganui Challenge Shield was successfully defended for the first time this season at Macnab Domain, as McCrea Scanning Counties defeated Kelso Hunterville 26-15. Undefeated McCarthy's Transport Rupaehu held off Direct Connect Marist Celtic 24-19, while in the Memorial Park derby, Utiku Old Boys picked up their first win despite a late score by Taihape, 31-29. Results, May 2-3 Tasman Tanning Premier Barracks Challenge Shield – Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 50 (Te Rangatira Waitokia 2, Adam Boult 2, Raymond Salu, Joe Edwards, Ezra Malo, Sheldon Pakinga tries; Pakinga 4 con, Ethan Robinson con) bt Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 13 (Carliwyn Riddles, Atriane Marino tries; Wiremu Morgan pen). HT: 12-8. Byfords Read-Mix Taihape 30 (Tremaine Gilbert, Mitchell Overton, Blake James tries, penalty try; Chad Whale 2 pen, con) bt Tāmata Hauhā Rātana 25 (Rangi Kui 2, Cody Hemi tries; Kui pen, 2 con, Brooklyn Herewini pen). HT: 15-13 Rātana. Tasman Tanning Senior Dallison Park: Seales Winslow Pirates bt Border 29-12. Country Club: Forest 360 Marist Knights bt Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau 83-0. Memorial Park: Utiku Old Boys bt Bennett's Taihape 31-29. Macnab Domain – Whanganui Challenge Shield: McCrea Scanning Counties bt Kelso Hunterville 26-15. Rochfort Park: McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu bt Direct Connect Marist Celtic 24-19. Tasman Tanning Women Cooks Gardens: Silks Audit Rātana bt Marton Queenbeez 94-5. Cooks Gardens: AGC Training Marist Clovers bt Hunterville 88-0.
