Efficient attack wins day for Marist

The scoreline didn't tell the whole story when Marist beat Pioneer 54-12 in their PGG Wrightson Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match at Memorial Park on Saturday.
A winning margin of that magnitude would suggest it was pretty much one-way traffic but that wasn't the case, with Pioneer actually having the better of the opening exchanges and competing keenly throughout most of the 80 minutes.
What made the main difference between the two sides was Marist's ability to turn their try-scoring opportunities into points on the board. They were very adept at moving the ball wide and creating overlaps simply through a combination of slick passing and strong, straight running.
Unfortunately for Pioneer they had nothing like the same efficiency in their attacking play. Several times they did find holes in the Marist defence but all too often put a spanner in their own works by making basic handling and passing errors just as the goal line beckoned.
As an overall spectacle, however, a small crowd was kept well entertained by two teams prepared to take a positive approach in conditions suited to running rugby.
The Marist backs thrived on the regular supply of quality possession earned by a pack in which a couple of talented youngsters in Leuma Wilson and James Goodger were standouts, along with older hands in Joe Nuku and Lee Paku.
At halfback, Api Matenga was always enterprising and innovative and the same could be said of Nathan Couch at first-five. They were always looking to change the direction of play and there was no better link man than midfielder Phil Aporo, whose expert timing of the pass often put his outsides into space. Jordon Watene was right back to his thrustful best on the wing and Murray Gleeson was typically elusive at fullback.
Pioneer might well have been well beaten on the scoreboard but no one could quibble at their endeavour. In Eruera Henare, Ihe Namana and Henare Te Whare they had a trio of forwards who gave every bit as good as they received while the pick of a backline, who were always prepared to chance their arm, was the versatile Nathan Rolls. The Wairarapa-Bush flanker was at fullback on this occasion and made an excellent fist of that position, both with his keen positional sense and his counter-attacking skills. Leuma Wilson, James Goodger, Joe Nuku, Api Matenga, Ben Hurley, Jordan Watene, Murray Gleeson, C Tufa, Rhys Severn and K Makaoio scored the Marist tries, with Goodger also landing two conversions. Henare Te Whare and K Te Whare touched down for Pioneer and Nathan Rolls kicked a conversion.
The only upset result in Saturday's play was the 18-12 defeat of hitherto second-placed Eketahuna by Gladstone in their match at Eketahuna. All the home team could mange were four penalty goals by Crete Cribb, while a Gladstone team who have been threatening to upset some of the ''hotpots'' all season recorded tries through Jeseva Naivalu, Bevan Morland and Andrew McKay and a penalty by James Mitchell.
East Coast were kept honest by Puketoi but kept their semifinal hopes on track with a 23-12 success. Nick Olson contributed 18 of the East Coast points with a try, three penalties and two conversions and Luke Shanks also scored a try. Jason Liverton and Stefan Kunde each kicked two penalties for Puketoi.
Competition front-runners Carterton also didn't have everything their own way before running out 22-8 winners over a feisty Greytown outfit. Lance Stevenson and Charlie Brown each picked up a brace of tries for Carterton to ensure they also secured the extra bonus point. Fraser King scored Greytown's try and Senoa Isaac landed a penalty.
Masterton Red Star ran in three tries, in beating Martinborough by a surprisingly comfortable 24-0 in their match at Martinborough. Jacob Bubb, Jordan Sutherland and Joe Papaali were the try scorers and Byron Karaitiana kicked three conversions and one penalty.
Saturday's outcomes meant five teams are still well in contention for semifinal spots in the premier division series, although all that could change when the NZRFU hands down a ruling on whether a WBRFU appeals committee decision not to deprive Marist of 14 competition points for playing a non-transferred player should be allowed to stand. If that penalty is reinstated, Marist's chances of making the semis would be slim.
Unofficial competition points are: Carterton 61, Marist 54, Masterton Red Star 53, Eketahuna 52, East Coast 51, Martinborough 35, Gladstone 30, Greytown 24, Puketoi 14, Pioneer 1. 0.0