Halfback Darryl Pickering gets a pass away in Carterton’s win over Pioneer. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
Carterton won at Pioneer’s homecoming, Greytown won at Gladstone, Marist overcame a loss of points, and Martinborough won in near dark. Times-Age sportswriter CHRIS COGDALE reviews the second round of the Moose Kapene Cup.
RUGBY
Carterton were too good for Pioneer in the first premier game to be played at Jeans St in almost three years, running away for a 37-10 victory.
In front of a large home crowd, Pioneer had their opportunities in an even first half, but failed to make them pay.
Carterton lifted the tempo in the second half and took control. In the end, they ran in five tries in a commanding performance.
Marist put behind the loss of three competition points to win a thrilling encounter with East Coast 38-31 at Memorial Park No 2 on Saturday.
The green and whites were deducted three points for a team sheet breach relating to the previous Saturday’s 16-15 win over Carterton.
The judicial panel made the decision on Friday night and imposed two further sanctions, which the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union will make public this week after formal notification to the Marist club.
The result of the game stands.
The decision didn’t affect Marist though as they got the better of East Coast in a to-and-fro encounter.
If anything, Marist had an edge in the backs, with wingers Soli Malatai and Anthony Tamakehu in outstanding form, each crossing for two tries.
East Coast wouldn’t go away though and they took advantage of any turnovers to keep the pressure on the home side, but in the end, Marist were too well organised and came out deserved winners.
To go to Gladstone and win is hard enough but to walk away with a bonus point from a comprehensive 32-10 victory was extra special for Greytown, captain Tavita Isaac said.
“I’m really stoked with that. It’s 15 years and I’ve only ever had one other win out at Gladstone. It’s tough to come out here, to their fortress, and get the ‘W’,” he said.
Once Greytown overcame the early home side pressure, they slowly took control of the game, but it was Gladstone who took an early lead.
Cameron Hayton superbly timed an intercept inside his own 22-metre line and sprinted downfield, but the veteran centre doesn’t have the pace he once had and was brought down in a high tackle about 15 metres from the goal line.
Jeremy Osborne slotted the easy penalty for the opening score.
From then on, Greytown slowly started to control the tempo but they didn’t open their account until the 27th minute, when impressive prop Chris Hemi crashed over after a series of attacking scrums.
Penalties to outstanding fullback Raniera Petersen gave Greytown a 13-3 lead at the break.
Petersen was in the scoring action again seven minutes into the second half when he ran on to a lovely pass from prop Lewis Bush, who threw an outrageous dummy before feeding the fullback who dived over.
The Gladstone faithful were given some hope of a comeback when fullback Nick Griffith touched down and Osborne converted to make the score 20-10 with 15 minutes to play.
But Greytown replied immediately with a try to hooker Ryan Hargood and sealed the bonus point with flanker Tana Isaac dotting down with two minutes to play.
Tavita Isaac said it was a pleasing result after a slow start.
“The first 10 minutes was ugly and we fell into their trap, but I think we were able to play our style of rugby and that’s what we’re trying to work on, is to play the Greytown way,” he said.
“The lineout was terrible at the start, but we sort of got it right at the end, and the scrum was strong all game.”
“It’s a massive booster for the boys but it’s a sprint and no one’s going to be easy,” Tavita Isaac said.
Defending champions Martinborough secured their first win of the championship with a 25-23 win over Eketahuna in a game that finished almost in the dark at Martinborough.
A neck injury to substitute prop Jono Todd, who had come on as a replacement for the injured Sam Gammie early in the game, had the game held up until an ambulance arrived at the ground.
Eventually, the game finished after 5pm and it was the home side backline that made the difference.
The big Eketahuna pack dominated the forward exchanges and the green and blacks fed off scraps.
What possession Martinborough did get they put to good use and regularly outstripped the Eketahuna defence out wide.
Representative winger Tristan Flutey was in outstanding form for the winners, scoring a brilliant individual try.
Scores [home teams first]
Premier Moose Kapene Cup
Marist 38 East Coast 31; Pioneer 10 Carterton 37; Gladstone 10 Greytown 32; Martinborough 25 Eketahuna 23.
Senior Reserves
Pioneer 5 East Coast 7; Marist 10 Eketahuna 3; Puketoi 52 Carterton 12; Featherston 19 Martinborough 34; Gladstone 18 Greytown 17.
Standings – Moose Kapene Cup
Greytown 10; Martinborough, East Coast 7; Carterton, Marist 6*; Gladstone 5, Eketahuna 1, Pioneer 0.
* Marist deducted three points for a team sheet breach in the first round.
