POWER PLAY: Greytown midfielder Teihana Brown on the attack.PHOTOS/CHRIS KILFORD
The Greytown juggernaut rolls on in Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby competition play.
The southerners guaranteed themselves the Kapene Cup for the second successive year when they beat a gutsy Pioneer 30-17 at Greytown on Saturday to top the points table at the end of one complete round of matches and they will now shift their focus to taking out the Tui Cup main championship title for the third time in a row.
It was their forwards who laid the foundation for Greytowns latest success. They dominated up front to such an extent over the first 40 minutes that their halftime advantage of 22-5 was, if anything, a little flattering to Pioneer who spent most of that spell deep in their own territory. There were moments when their attacking flair had the home teams own defence stretched but they were few and far between
With No8 Tana Isaac leading the way, the Greytown forwards were relentlessly efficient on the pick and go and they seldom failed to make good metres with their short passing rushes either. Front rowers Daniel Gilmore and Kurt Simmonds were also willing ball carriers whenever the opportunity arose and the same could be said for lock Regan Pope and loosie Chaz Matthews.
There was an impressive slickness about the Greytown back play too. Halfback Joseph Sio chose his options well and there was some thrustful running in midfield from Tapaga Isaac and Teihana Brown. Wing Tavita Isaac scored two tries and was always looking for work.
To Pioneers credit, the second half was a much more even contest and, in fact, the scoreboard shows they actually outscored Greytown 12-8.
Nathan Rolls, Lee Ewe, Jaden Mason and Vinnie Goodger were prominent in the forwards and the introduction of Hoani Peacock from the bench at first-five was an obvious plus.
He combined well with the always-lively halfback Victor Thompson and there was some heady play, too, from midfielder Tommy Harmon and fullback Sean Robinson.
Brown, Tapaga Isaac, Tavita Isaac (2) and Matthews scored the Greytown tries.Luke Dingle kicked one conversion and Kingi Kaiwai landed a penalty. Ewe, Goodger and Mason were the try-scorers for Pioneer and Peacock kicked a conversion.
Eketahuna moved into second place on the Kapene Cup table by beating Marist in a high-scoring encounter at Memorial Park. A total of 80 points were recorded, including 12 tries, and Eketahuna won 42-38. Tries for Eketahuna were scored by Dylan Bennett, Sam Monaghan, Paul Tikomainavalu, Brendan Walker, Daniel White and Zac Wilkie, Monaghan dropped a goal and Tom Meuli kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Malatai Malatai scored two tries for Marist with others going to Jahrome Graham, Michael Kloeg, Seuituli Tafa and Pua Tafa, who also kicked four conversions.
Martinborough upset Gladstone 13-10, the teams scoring a try apiece. Tim Roberts touched down for Martinborough and Tipene Haira added one conversion and two penalties. Andrew McKay scored Gladstones try and Andrew Fell kicked one penalty and one conversion.
Nick Olson came up with 17 points for East Coast as they beat Carterton 30-12. He scored two tries and kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Other East Coast try-scorers were Heemi Tupaea and Ben Burnett and Matt Handerson kicked one penalty. Jono Hurley and Corey Carmichael scored tries for Carterton and Jono Hurley kicked a conversion.
Kapene Cup points are carried over into the Tui Cup and are: Greytown 30, Eketahuna 29, Pioneer 26, Gladstone 16, East Coast 14, Marist 13, Martinborough 11 and Carterton 5.
Senior reserve results: Eketahuna 19, Marist 10; Tuhirangi 36, East Coast 34; Pioneer beat Carterton by default.