Plethora of scenarios for last round of Premier and Senior
By Jared Smith
Like 2020, all bottom three teams in Tasman Tanning Premier are still in playoff contention as the ‘fight for fourth’ will go down to the wire in the final regular season games this coming Saturday.
The difference is, unlike September 5 last year, this time two of those sides will play each other, giving themselves the better 50-50 odds of getting the precious last spot by virtue of a victory, rather than bonus points or trying to topple a Top 3 side.
After their first back-to-back victories since 2019, Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist had to relinquish fourth to McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu, but should not feel too disappointed after a yeoman’s effort against a red-hot Byford’s Readimix Taihape.
After being smashed 81-14 by Taihape at Memorial Park just six weeks ago, the Marist squad had their “come to Jesus” meeting and have responded with some gritty performances this last month, including leading Taihape for a long time before losing 17-5 in the return game at the Racecourse grounds.
Moved off the bog-heap at Spriggens Park, Marist held their 5-0 advantage well into the second half, thanks to a try from hooker Jack Yarrall.
Coming off the impressive win over Waverley Harvesting Border, Taihape flirted with surrendering the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield in their first defence, before pulling away with three tries, although missing the bonus point to lose their share of the points table lead.
Utility back Tyler Rogers-Holden scored a double, while loose forward Beau Walker also dotted down.
Taihape will come back to Whanganui this weekend to meet a slipping Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, who are secure in third spot but can advance no higher, after a 44-7 drubbing from Border at the Country Club.
Scoring early and working their way up to 25-0 by halftime, Border were well on their way to a bonus point win and moving clear of Taihape on top after surrendering the Shield to them.
After he missed out for the first time this season at Memorial Park, Vereniki Tikoisolomone was back in lethal mode with a hat-trick of tries, taking him to 18 from nine games.
Fellow outside backs Tom Symes and Ben Aitken got on the sheet, while No8 Semi Vodosese scored in consecutive games.
Craig Clare may still be thinking about whether or not to give Heartland rugby one more go, but it would appear there is little to think about after a 12-point haul.
Kaierau received a seven point penalty try in the second half, but that was all they had to show, having now lost three straight games for the first time since 2017.
Speirs Food Marton have no chance of making the Tasman Tanning Senior playoffs, but reminiscent of their late resurgence in 2020, they are hell-bent on finishing 2021 with some silverware after chasing another boilover with a 24-22 upset of Ali Arc Logistics—DNA Kennels Marist Celtic.
Defending the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield against the No3 team on the table, Marton led by five points by halftime at Marton Park and held off a comeback by the hosts to leave themselves with one more home defence before they can pocket the sponsor’s prize for the year.
Celtic’s shock loss means they could go from 2020 finalists to missing the playoffs altogether, as they host the undefeated Kelso Hunterville at home this coming weekend.
Hunterville were made to work by the Marist Buffalo’s at their domain, but eventually pulled away for a 29-6 win, guaranteeing they will finish top of the table.
Smarting from their surprise loss in to Hunterville in the Pa last weekend, Harvey Round Motors Ratana’s focus is now keeping their home semifinal spot, which they did by travelling to McNab Domain and picking up a 36-6 win over McCrea Scanning Counties.
Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau will see if they can overtake Ratana when they face them at the Country Club this week, which would then mean a semifinal rematch at the same location, after they got payback over Utiku Old Boys for their 2020 loss, winning 28-17.
It was sudden death for the playoff hopes of two teams at Memorial Park, and Black Bull Liquor Pirates emerged with their most important win in two seasons, after coming from behind at halftime to beat Bennett’s Taihape 35-27 – staying in touching distance of Celtic heading into the last regular season fixtures.
But perhaps the most emotional win was at Rochfort Park, as the Ruapehu Seniors delivered their eulogy for beloved co-coach Mark Green, rising to the moment to beat Border 53-5, just four days after they lost him in tragic circumstances.
Results, June 26
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 9
At Racecourse (Grand Hotel Challenge Shield) –
Byford’s Readi-Mix Taihape 17 (Tyler Rogers-Holden 2, Beau Walker tries, Dane Whale con) beat Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 5 (Jack Yarrall try). HT: 5-0 Marist.
At Kaierau Country Club –
Waverley Harvesting Border 44 (Vereniki Tikoisolomone 3, Tom Symes, Ben Aitken, Semi Vodosese, Craig Clare tries, Clare pen, 2 con, Nick Harding con) beat Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 7 (penalty try). HT: 25-0.
At Rochfort Park –
McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 34 (Raymond Tutauha 2, Kaiwarawara Wallace, Campbell Hart, Cyrus Tasi tries, Royce Trow pen, 3 con) beat Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 27 (Jim Seruwalu 2, Josaia Dawai, Joeli Vasukacivi, Mairangi Tamehana tries, Terau Wirihana con). HT: 10-5 Ruapehu.
Senior Championship, Week 10
At Kaierau Country Club:
Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau bt Utiku OB 28-17. HT: 18-5.
At McNab Domain:
Harvey Round Motors Ratana bt McCrea Scanning Counties 36-6. HT: 12-6.
At Marton Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield):
Speirs Food Marton bt Ali Arc Logistics—DNA Kennels Marist Celtic 24-22. HT: 17-12.
At Huntervllle Domain:
Kelso Hunterville bt Marist Buffalo’s 29-6. HT: 16-6.
At Memorial Park:
Black Bull Liquor Pirates bt Bennett’s Taihape 35-27. HT: 17-14 Taihape
At Rochfort Park:
Ruapehu bt Border 53-5. HT: 38-0.
Premier Points
| 2021 Tasman Tanning PREMIER | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Border | ||||||||||
| Taihape | ||||||||||
| Kaierau | ||||||||||
| Marist | ||||||||||
| Ruapehu | ||||||||||
| Ngamatapouri |
Senior Points
| 2021 Tasman Tanning Seniors | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunterville | ||||||||||
| Ratana | ||||||||||
| Celtic | ||||||||||
| Kaierau | ||||||||||
| Pirates | ||||||||||
| Taihape | ||||||||||
| Ruapehu | ||||||||||
| Marton | ||||||||||
| Utiku OB | ||||||||||
| Counties | ||||||||||
| Buffalo’s | ||||||||||
| Border | ||||||||||
| *All Standings are provisional | ||||||||||
| * Ratana lose 5 Championship Pts for playing an in-eligible player, 5 pts are award to Ruapehu "B'" | ||||||||||
METRO: It was a slightly tougher challenge at Ongley Park on Saturday, but St Johns Whanganui Metro kept their 10-match MRU Colts winning streak alive with a 42-11 win over Old Boys Marist. Metro will take their bye this coming weekend before the last regular season game.
COLLEGIATE: Whanganui Collegiate 1st XV maintained third spot in the CNI standings after hammering St John’s Hastings 56-10 at the school grounds on Saturday. Their next competition game is not until July 24, but will be a battle against defending co-champions St Paul’s Collegiate.
SCHOOLBOYS: The Whanganui High and City College 1st XV’s still occupy the Top 2 spots on the MRU Premier 2 table, although neither won on Saturday. WHS was held to a 12-12 draw away to third-placed Horowhenua College, while City were just pipped by home side Feilding High 2nd XV 20-19. In Premier 3a, Whanganui Collegiate 2nd XV lost 27-22 to Manukura 2nd XV.
