Marist win in Premier rugby’s return to Ohakune
By Jared Smith
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist are on the board for the 2023 Tasman Tanning Premier season as top flight club rugby returned to Ohakune’s Rochfort Park for the first time in a season on Saturday.
Reinforced from the side that lost narrowly to Waverley Harvesting Border, Marist ran in seven tries to two for a comfortable 43-12 win over McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu, who were coming off the bye for their first home match back in Premier.
Prop Keightley Watson was back to anchor the scrum, crucial against Ruapehu’s incumbent Steelform Whanganui players in the front row, while lock Brad O’Leary had completed his sojourn playing club rugby in Ireland.
However, it was fellow prop Cameron Neilson who would pick up the team player of the day award for a strong performance.
South African-raised halfback Winslin Klassen impressed for the second week in a row, while the tries were shared around the lineup.
First-five Jack O’Leary contributed 13 points from a try and four conversions, while former Ngamatapouri flanker Samu Kubunavanua scored the first try for his new club.
While Marist had the clear advantage, Ruapehu showed their signature heart – scoring a try in each half from lock Maz Wisnewski and midfielder Connor McIntyre, with first-five Logan Blackburn adding a conversion.
Marist remain eager to achieve their goal of finally defeating a ‘Top 2’ club when they face Byford’s Readimix Taihape at home, with the race to lift the Paul Mitchell Cup as table leaders at the end of the first round still very much open.
It would prove a good weekend for the Whanganui Marist RFC club, as they made a clean sweep of their games.
The upset of the round came from the young AGC Marist Knights, who came of age after a 36-28 over perennial title contenders Kelso Hunterville at the Racecourse grounds – running up a big 24-0 lead at halftime and holding off a signature Hunterville comeback.
Defending champions Ali Arc Marist Celtic stopped the hot potato journey the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield has been on, making a successful away defence 43-13 over JJ Walters Asphalt Marton.
Utiku Old Boys impressed by travelling to the Pa and upending Tāmata Hauhā Rātana 20-10 to stay in touch with the Top 4 while knocking their opponent out of it.
Bennett’s Taihape rebounded from their narrow loss to Gemini Pepper Kaierau to travel to the opposite side of the WRFU catchment to hammer the Border Seniors 70-3.
Kaierau still leads the table after they pulled away in the second half from the newcomers Castlecliff Club Mustangs for a third straight bonus point win, 58-3.
Black Bull Liquor Pirates also stayed in touch with the Top 4 after a comfortable 52-17 away win over McCrea Scanning Counties.
Results, April 29
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 3
Barracks Bar Challenge Shield – Waverley Harvesting Border 14 (Alekesio Vakarorogo try; Craig Clare 3 pen) bt Byford’s Readimix Taihape 5 (Luke Whale try). HT: 8-0.
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 43 (Ioane Aki, Daniel Kauika, Jack O’Leary, Kayden Shedlock, Samu Kubunavanua ,Cajun Teki-Botica, Ben O’Leary tries; Jack O’Leary 4 con) bt McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu 12 (Connor McIntyre, Maz Wisnewski tries, Logan Blackburn con). HT: 26-7.
Bye: Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau.
Senior Championship, Week 3
At Spriggens Park: Gemini Pepper Kaierau bt Castlecliff Club Mustangs 58-3. HT: 15-3.
At Racecourse: AGC Marist Knights bt Kelso Hunterville 36-28. HT: 24-0.
At Dallison Park: Bennett’s Taihape bt Border 70-3. HT: 35-3.
At McNab Domain: Black Bull Liquor Pirates bt McCrea Scanning Counties 52-17. HT: 28-5.
At Ratana: Utiku OB bt Tāmata Hauhā Rātana 20-10. HT: 3-0.
At Marton Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Ali Arc Marist Celtic bt JJ Walters Asphalt Marton 43-13. HT: 17-6.
Premier Points
2023 Tasman Tanning Premiers Table
updated 9.47pm 24/06/2023
| 2023 Tasman Tanning PREMIER | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waverley Harvesting Border | |||||||||
| Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau | |||||||||
| Byford’s Readimix Taihape | |||||||||
| Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist | |||||||||
| McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu | |||||||||
Senior Points
2023 Tasman Tanning Seniors Table
updated 9.47pm 24/06/2023
| 2023 Tasman Tanning Seniors | Diff | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Arc Logistics Marist Celtic | ||||||||||
| Utiku OB | ||||||||||
| Tāmata Hauhā Rātana | ||||||||||
| Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau | ||||||||||
| AGC Marist Knights | ||||||||||
| Bennett’s Taihape | ||||||||||
| Black Bull Liquor Pirates | ||||||||||
| Kelso Hunterville | ||||||||||
| JJ Walters Asphalt Marton | ||||||||||
| McCrea Scanning Counties | ||||||||||
| Border | ||||||||||
| Castlecliff Club Mustangs | ||||||||||
| *All Standings are provisional | ||||||||||
