Eketahuna battle on for crucial win

Eketahuna boosted their chances of a semi-final spot with a hard fought 22-19 victory over Marist in their Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match played at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
In a game which attracted a surprisingly small crowd - there were only 14 people in the grandstand just prior to kick off - it was cut and thrust all the way through but, in the end, the defending champions were good value for their success.
The battle for forward supremacy was a keen one with Eketahuna having the edge, if only because they- were more united in their driving play.
Hard-working flanker Luke Mahoney was the standout up front for Eketahuna, doing the hard yards on both attack and defence,while No.8 Steve Olds was his usual blockbusting self whenever in possession of the ball, and no-one could quibble at the diligence of Josh Mackey Peter Bond and Angus McMillan in the tighter exchanges.
Marist utilised the height of Corey Reid and Kerry Hargood to telling effect in the lineouts and they were also prominent in the rucks and mauls, flanker Geordie Walden was always quick to harass the opposing inside backs and solid on the tackle and Blair Gardner further enhanced his reputation as a young prop of promise.
Star of the Eketahuna backline was fullback Simanu Simanu who didn't let a sore knee stop him from making his presence felt on the counter attack.
His positional play on defence was also outstanding and he made an impression with his goal kicking too, a penalty landed late in the game proving decisive after the two teams had been locked together at 19-19.
Centre Jon Guillard was another Eketahuna back to have a strong game and Keiran Anderson was generally sound at halfback.
Big winger Phil Aporo scored two tries for Marist and made several storming runs through the course of the game and the Couch brothers., Nathan and Ben, were a constant threat in midfield.
Darren Yates, Jon Guillard and Keiran Anderson scored tries for Eketahuna and Simanu Simanu landed two conversions and one penalty. Phil Aporo (2) and Joe Nuku scored tries for Marist while Nathan Couch kicked two conversions in the absence of usual goal kicker Patrick Rimene, who left the field with a knee injury around halftime.
Pioneer scored the only two tries of the game in their 12-6 win over Carterton in a match transferred from the Park Sportsground to Colombo Road because of the better ground conditions there. Tommy Harmon and Jordan Fox scored the Pioneer tries and Nathan Rolls kicked a conversion. Jono Hurley kicked two penalties for Carterton.
Gladstone sealed their place as top qualifiers for the semi-finals with a 15-5 win over Greytown-Tuhirangi, who by contrast are now out of the reckoning for a top four position. Mike Spence scored two tries for Gladstone and Ngaitai Walker kicked a penalty and a conversion. Tavita Isaac scored a try for Greytown-Tuhirangi.