Draw between fierce rivals leaves semi spot open
The question of who will claim the second home Tasman Tanning Premier semifinal spot remains no closer to being answered, as a dramatic converted try on fulltime saw a 29-29 stalemate at the Country Club on Saturday.
After some epic clashes in the last four seasons, including semifinals and Barracks Bar Challenge Shield games, Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau and Byford’s Readimix Taihape added another chapter to their rivalry in a match neither could afford to lose, and yet ultimately neither won.
Kaierau first-five Sheldon Pakinga had an early chance at a penalty, which was waved away, and when Kaierau next went on the attack, loose ruck ball saw Taihape swoop, as returning winger Tiari Mumby snatched it and took off, backed by fullback Tyler Rogers-Holden, who was tackled short and threw the ball to halfback Aaron Chapman, who kicked the low pass to dive in-goal for a 68m stunner.
Taihape then launched another raid from deep in their own half, as Rogers-Holden attacked down the wing, finding support, and then lock Peter-Travis Hay-Horton charged back through the middle to find Chapman for the offload and his double, 12-0 in the 22nd minute.
Chapman could have had a hattrick shortly after as Taihape again made havoc down the far touchline, but centre Peceli Malanicagi got across to force the handling error.
Then Kaierau caught the deepcounter attack bug, as from their own 5m the wingers Peniani Waqatabu and Rusiate Lalanabaravi combined from a line break and long pass to link with fullback Carliwyne Riddles and get down to the line, and although Pakinga was just ankle-tapped short, he popped the ball up for reserve lock Mairangi Tamehana to score.
A quick tap near the line caught Taihape offside, and then from the ruck hooker Joe Edwards dived through to score, with Malanicagi taking over the kicking although unsuccessful.
With time almost up for the half, Taihape spread the ball in the attack half, only for Riddles to snatch an intercept, and although RogersHolden ran him down, second-five Apolosi Tanoa was there to take the offload and dot down for a 15-12 turnaround.
Kaierau had an early chance to extend their lead after the break, but Waqatabu couldn’t hang onto the final pass, and while the home side got the better of territory, they couldn’t convert, and eventually Taihape worked their way out and got a penalty for first-five Dane Whale to lock up the scores in the 57th minute.
Kaierau worked back with their
forwards being stopped inches short, and after a succession of penalties, a quick tap was taken with Malanicagi firing a long pass to Riddles, who put reserve winger Ratu Delasau over in the corner, with Pakinga taking back the tee and slotting the kick from near touch for 22-15.
It looked like Kaierau had then struck the decisive blow when Malanicagi stabbed through a grubber kick over halfway, and after a fumble the ball was kept on the toe for Lalanbaravi to win the race ingoal, Pakinga converting for 29-15 with 11 minutes left.
But Taihape is made of stern stuff, and forwards combined with backs to move the ball down field. A couple of Kaierau players were injured during the long movement, and Taihape swept to the corner for reserve midfielder Tim Goodwin to score against his old club, Whale slotting a clutch conversion from the sideline for 29-22 with six minutes left.
Kaierau had the chance to keep Taihape pinned in their 30m, but an attacking kick was secured by RogersHolden, and then a penalty gave the visitors a late chance to clear back up the field, where they missed touch but the home side kicked it back.
Another penalty and this time Taihape got their lineout, and the forwards smashed up towards the posts. They were held up over the line but received another penalty.
A quick tap, and Taihape’s forwards again attacked towards the posts, with prop Hadlee Hay-Horton burrowing underneath bodies to score, Whale slotting the extras with no time left.
Meanwhile, the truncated Senior competition saw some teams make great inroads on the points table, while others took tumbles, and a couple were very fortunate to hold their spots after lower table sides gave them a fright.
The big movers were Utiku Old Boys, who raised over a century of points against the newcomers Castlecliff Club Mustangs, turning a 54-0 lead at halftime into a 107-0 shutout at Spriggens Park.
Utiku’s big result created a complete second-sixth place swap with their Memorial Park neighbours Bennett’s Taihape, who could not lift to another big upset two weeks in a row, as Tāmata Hauhā Rātana travelled to pick up the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield, 39-12.
Having lost the shield to Taihape last weekend, table leaders Ali Arc Logistics Marist Celtic got back to business in their ‘State of Origin’ derby with AGC Marist Knights, beating their game younger clubmates 38-12 at Spriggens Park.
Back on the climb were Black Bull Liquor Pirates, who lifted from eighth to sixth courtesy of a big 61-5 win over the Border Seniors at Dallison Park as the race from the Top 4 remains tight with four games left.
Managing to keep fourth and fifth place, but only just, were Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau and Kelso Hunterville, after stern challenges from JJ Walters Asphalt Marton and McCrea Scanning Counties respectively.
Kaierau travelled to Marton Park and scored the only try of the second half to stay ahead of Marton 22-15.
At Hunterville Domain, visitors Counties came so close to upsetting Senior’s multiple-time champions, leading at halftime but unable to hang on, defeated 17-10.