Gladstone grab third seeding for semis

WALL: Pioneer's Vinnie Goodger is well held by the Greytown defence.

Confirmation of who will play who in next weekend's semi-finals was the highlight of Tui Cup premier division rugby matches in Wairarapa-Bush on Saturday.

Top qualifiers Eketahuna will be at home to Pioneer and defending champions Greytown will host Gladstone.

The big interest in the last series of preliminary round games centred around who would earn the third seeding with Pioneer and Gladstone locked together on 35 points.

And that was sealed by Gladstone when they secured 4 points for their 16-8 win over Martinborough. Pioneer, on the other hand, failed to add to their tally in their 31-20 loss to Greytown.

Pioneer did, however, lose little caste in defeat. In what was very much an up tempo game at the Jeans St grounds in Masterton they might have been outplayed by a fired-up Greytown for most of the game but stuck to their guns in determined fashion, and actually ran in the last two tries of the match, both of which were spectacular affairs.

Greytown, who are aiming for their third successive Tui Cup title, placed huge emphasis on attack and there was a lot to like about the manner in which forwards and backs combined in movements which often swept at last half the length of the paddock. There was no more menacing runner with ball in hand than No8 Tana Isaac who again looked every inch representative material and backs Joseph Sio and Tapaga Isaac were little less impressive.

Pioneer came a clear second in the possession stakes but they, too, were keen to move the ball wide at every opportunity. Flanker Rima Murarai was his usual busy self and midfielder Nikora Ewe was a useful contributor on both attack and defence.

Raymond Oakley, Kingi Kaiwai, Tapaga Isaac and Tana Isaac scored tries for Greytown and Oakley added four conversions and a penalty. Nikora Ewe and Jaden Mason scored tries for Pioneer and they were also awarded a penalty try. Joseph Thompson kicked one conversion and one penalty.

Sam Monaghan picked up a hat-trick of tries in Eketahuna's 48-21 win over Marist at Eketahuna. All told Eketahuna scored eight tries, others going to Nathan Ebbett, Tom Meuli (2), Richard Thurston and Paul Tiko. Meuli added four conversions. Kieran O'Brien (2) and Laurence Titter scored tries for Marist, with James Goodger kicking two conversions and Jahrome Graham one.

It was a battle royal at Gladstone, where the home team edged out Martinborough 16-8. Andrew Fell and Inia Katia scored tries for Gladstone. Fell also kicked a penalty and Tim Griffith dropped a goal. Himiona Haira scored Martinborough's sole try and Tipene Haira landed a penalty.

East Coast and Carterton also went at it hammer and tongs, with East Coast winning 24-22. Zeb Aporo and Byron Karaitiana scored tries for East Coast with Karaitiana adding a dropped goal and Nick Olson kicking three penalties and a conversion. Johnie McFadzean (2) and Eugene Gerrard scored the Carterton tries and Andrew Humberstone kicked one penalty and two conversions.

Preliminary round points: Eketahuna 57, Greytown 50, Gladstone 39, Pioneer 35, Martinborough 29, East Coast 27, Marist 19, Carterton 17.

Draw for next Saturday-Tui Cup semis: Eketahuna v Pioneer at Eketahuna, Greytown v Gladstone at Greytown. Premier reserve semis: Martinborough v Carterton at Martinborough, East Coast v Marist at Whareama.

Senior reserve results from the weekend. Top five: Eketahuna 7, Martinborough 5; Greytown 20, Pioneer 14. Bottom four: Carterton 17, East Coast 8; Tuhirangi beat Gladstone by default.