Aporo powers Marist home

The powerful running of centre Phil Aporo played a key role in Marist's 46-0 win over Puketoi, in the Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match played at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
Several times during the course of the game, the burly Marist centre split open the Puketoi defence to create try scoring opportunies for his side, and and it was appropriate that he himself scored the most spectacular try of all.It came after a movement which swept three-quarters the length of the field.
Aporo was however, not the only Marist back to impress, with the experienced Paddy Rimene showing coolness and guile at first-five, Adam Wichman impressing with his pace and determination on the wing, and Jeremy Calkin grabbing every counter attacking opportunity from fullback.
One had to admire too the versatility of newcomer Joe Nuku who looked a player of talent at second-five in the first half and then seemed equally at home when he joined the loose forwards in the second.
The Marist forwards made a decent impact in the scrums, often having Puketoi on the back pedal there thanks to good work of front rowers Llee Paku, Terry Norman and Walyter Williams. Their lineout play was something of a mixed bag, but Cory Reid still managed to take down his share of clean ball and Rhys Severn was a lively and aggressive flanker.
Puketoi played their part in making the game a reasonable spectacle for the small crowd by turning down several close range penalties in favour of going for five pointers, and while they didn't actually score a try they came close to it on numerous occasions.
In fact, after trailing 27-0 at halftime they clearly had the better of the first 20 minutes of the second half both in terms of territory and possession.
In Lewis Small, Puketoi had a first-five who generally chose his options well and gained good ground with his left-footed punts. Halfback Joe Hull came through a busy game with credit and in second-five Gordon Hart Puketoi had the best defensive player on the paddock.
One would hate to think how many tackles he made during the course of the 80 minutes.
The standout performers up front for Puketoi were hooker Peter Bowie and lock James Ryan. Loosies David Robertson and Jared Bambry also had their moments.
Try scorers for Marist were Jeremy Calkin (2), Adam Wichman, Phil Aporo, Geordie Walden, Cory Reid and Kyle Karaitiana while Paddy Rimene kicked one penalty and four conversions.
Carterton looked like scoring a big win over Pioneer in their match at Carterton when they led 17-0 after about as many minutes, but from then on Pioneer came right back into the game and Carterton got home by just 17-11.
They played a good part of the second half with 14 men after referee Dean Goodin sent prop "Bull" Buckle from the field.
Buckle had earlier been a try scorer, and Carterton's other points came from a Glen Bunny try and two conversions and a penalty by Jono Hurley.
Rep forwards Tomasi Kedarabuka and Joe Harwood were standouts for Carterton, while outstanding for Pioneer were livewire loosie Nathan Rolls and hard-running midfielder Tommy Harmon.
Speedy East Coast wing Nic Olsen scored three tries as his team beat Martinborough 26-6. Olsen was always a handful for the Martinborough defence with his rapid acceleration and elusiveness.
Fullback Byron Karaitina was another East Coast back to shine, and the pick of a pack which struggled to get the better of Martinborough in the battle for possession was flanker Glen Henson.
East Coast coach RossWakeling was pleased enough with his team's efforts and warned that Martinborough did enough to suggest they will become a handy side as the season progresses.
Last year's beaten finalists Gladstone were on the end of a one-point beating by Greytown-Tuhirangi which got home 13-12.It was a close go with Gladstone actually leading 12-3 until late into the second half when the combined side scored a try from a charge down and also kicked a penalty goal.
In the other premier division match defending champions Eketahuna had to work harder than expected in beating Masterton Red Star 29-0 at Eketahuna on Friday night.