Settler’s Honey Ngamatapouri wins South Taranaki derby for the first time

Tasman Tanning Premier’s two longest active streaks ended on Friday night under the bright lights of Dallison Park as Settler’s Honey Ngamatapouri won the South Taranaki derby for the first time.

The annual Duck Shooting Night match, which Waverley Harvesting Border have won for nine consecutive seasons since 2013, went the visitors way, 14-0 against a badly depleted home side.

It was also Border’s first defeat in a competitive game at Waverley in 16 matches, dating back to the first round of 2020 when a similarly understaffed side lost to Wanganui Car Center Kaierau.

Due to injury, suspension and unavailability, Border Friday was missing Craig Clare, Lindsay Horrocks, Semi Vodosese, Andy Hamilton, Anaru Haerewa, Nick Harding and Toby Lennox, along with even coach Cole Baldwin waiting for a possible return. The bench.

Ngamatapouri, meanwhile, had strengthened even in the side that barely lost to Byfords Readimix Taihape, with midfielder Kameli Kuruyabaki completing his move from rugby club MRU to join a six-man backline who have a Heartland Championship experience.

But despite all that firepower, the game went scoreless in the first half as Ngamatapouri only looked to kick once in the busy general play and at the place tapped penalties and even ran from his own try line, looking to break through.

Border, meanwhile, lived on the stronger technique of their scrums – earning tight headers and their own flow, but without their baseline generals they struggled to put together coordinated attacks and dropped the ball with the line in sight.

The home side even took to the scrum for their penalty options, after top-five youngster Tyrone Albert made a three-point attempt and missed.

As depth perception drops by 30% at night, Ngamatapouri also did some key fumbling as he looked to offload.

The theme continued into the second half although now Ngamatapouri was starting to break tackles to get a roll-on, and finally in the 55th minute, after a strong charge from No.8 Bryn Hudson was stopped just before, the gap opened up on the ruck for impressive fullback Peceli Malanicagi to rush and run under the posts.

Top five Brook Tremayne set the extras, and after defending a surge of boundaries in their own half, where again the home side lost the ball at crucial moments, Ngamatapouri got a big boost during from his breakthrough of the defensive line, when despite losing possession, the forwards were able to turn the home side’s scrum to get a change of possession from them for a change.

From a set piece, the ball was swept aside and Kuruyabaki crossed half a gap and put winger Josaia Bogileka intact in the corner, with Tremayne raising the flags from the touchline.

The best for the home side was midfielder Alekesio Vakarorogo, who made plenty of cover tackles and was his team’s remaining striking weapon, as well as loose young striker Tobias Stark, son of the club legend Ray, who stepped in to help skipper Angus Middleton pressure Ngamatapouri’s ruck. ball and force turnovers.

It won’t get any easier for Border as they head across the watershed this Saturday to meet rivals Taihape.

In senior, the Country Division continues to be the “murderer row”, as in the Pā, Harvey Round Motors Ratana picked up defending champion Kelso Hunterville, holding 29-24 in the final rematch of 2021.

Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield holder JJ Walters Marton tops the standings after a strong comeback to his park – going from 16 points to a 27-24 win over McCarthy Transport Ruapehu.

With two games to play before the Championship/Consolation split, Bennett’s Taihape stayed in touch with the top 3 after a 34-12 victory over Utiku Old Boys in the Memorial Park derby.

The Town Division sees Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau remain unbeaten after a 43-29 victory over Marist Buffalos in a fluid game at the Country Club.

Ali Arc Logistics-DNA Kennels Marist Celtic bounced back from their loss to Kaierau to retain their place in the top three, thanks to a 61-0 hammering from Border under the lights on Friday at Dallison Park.

The Black Bull Liquor Pirates pulled away from McCrea Scanning Counties in the second half to win 33-20 at McNab Domain.

Results, May 7

Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 3

Colons Honey Ngamatapouri 14 (Peceli Malanicagi, Josaia Bogileka tries; Brook Tremayne 2 con) bt Waverley Harvesting Border 0. HT: 0-0.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 41 (Paiki Ponga, James Robertson, Ben O’Leary, Rangi Kui, Marc Ouellet try; Kui 4 pen, 2 con) bt Wanganui Car Center Kaierau 10 (Ethan Robinson try, pen, con). ME: 11-10.

Goodbye: Readimix Taihape from Byford.

Seniors, Week 3

City

At Kaierau Country Club: Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau bt Marist Buffalos 43-29. HT: 19-12.

At Dallison Park: Ali Arc Logistics-DNA Kennels Marist Celtic bt Border 61-0. ME: 17-0.

At McNab Estate: Black Bull Liquor Pirates bt McCrea Scanning Counties 33-20. ME: 14-13.

Country

At Ratana Pa: Harvey Round Motors Ratana vs. Kelso Hunterville 29-24. ME: 17-7 Ratana.

At Marton Park (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): JJ Walters Marton bt McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 27-24. ME: 24-8 Ruapehu.

At Memorial Park: Bennett’s Taihape bt Utiku OB 34-12. ME: 22-7

Around the field

METRO: St Johns Whanganui Metro Women didn’t have to wait long for their second victory in the MRU competition after hammering Ashhurst Pohangina RFC 102-0 at Spriggens Park on Saturday. Seeking to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time, the team will be tested when they host Old Boys Marist this Saturday. The St Johns Whanganui Colts were goodbye and resume their campaign at Bush SC.

MCKENZIE: Former WRFU development manager Lesley McKenzie coached Japan’s Sakura XV to a 28-14 win over Fijiana on the Gold Coast last week. The Fiji squad was made up of the players who recently went unbeaten in the Super W competition.

HEARTLAND: The second fitness session for potential Steelform Whanganui team members will take place at 6 p.m. Monday night at Kaierau Country Club. A team from Whanganui will be chosen to face Wairarapa-Bush on the Queen’s birthday on Monday June 6.