History repeats in opening clash

The 30-13 win secured by defending champions Gladstone over last year's beaten finalists Marist was about the only predictable result when senior first division club rugby matches got under way in Wairarapa-Bush on Saturday.
With Puketoi upsetting Pioneer 27-14, Martinborough beating Carterton 15-0 and East Coast scoring a late converted try to edge out Greytown 17-10 the second favourites actually came out on top in the three remaining games.
Gladstone's winning margin did not truly reflect the merits of the two teams in the match at Gladstone with Marist giving about as good as they received but too often failing to turn prime scoring opportunities into points on the board, something the home side generally managed to do.
Even without the services of Wairarapa-Bush skipper Mike Spence, who was nursing a slight injury,the Gladstone pack showed enough to suggest they are going to develop into a formidable unit as the season progress.
Hooker Richard Puddy and lock John Stevenson led the way in the tighter exchanges, No.8 Steve Wilkinson was a punishing runner in broken play and a new face in flanker Ed Taylor was prominent in the loose, both with his speed to the breakdown and his constructiveness once he got there.Already he appeals as a strong candidate for representative selection.
The Marist forwards struggled to match Stevenson in the lineouts but there was an impressive solidity about front rowers Lee Paku, Kyle Karaitaina and Blair Gardner and both Anthony Balks and Joe Nuku were robust ball carriers.
Gladstone unearthed a couple of other likely prospects in the backs in first-five Dean Grant and midfielder Jordan Watene. Grant showed good tactical nous and was especially impressive with his kicking, both for territory and for goal,while Watene's dancing feet usually saw him breach the advantage line on attack.There was some powerful running too from Heemi Tupaea, both from fullback and midfield.
The unavailability of Patrick Rimene through work commitments didn't help the Marist cause although newcomer Te Ati Mahuri did make a decent fist of the first-five role and the Couchs, Nathan and Ben, had their moments at second-five and centre respectively.
EAST COAST V GREYTOWN
East Coast fullback Nick Olson capped off an outstanding individual performance to to race 50m for a last minute try in his team's 17-10 win over Greytown at Whareama. He was always a major threat on attack for the Coasters while blindside flanker Ken Scott was the mainstay of their hard-working pack. Old hands in prop Brett Rudman and lock Norm Henricksen shone for Greytown up front and Tavita Isaac was a dangerous runner on the wing.
Loose forward Jared Hawkins was the standout player in Martinborough's 15-0 win over Carterton at Martinborough.He was invariably at the centre of action on attack and defence. Skipper Jeremy Sargent shone in the tight while Ryan Renata was the pick of a backline which generally made sound use of the possession which came their way. Carterton had two of the better forwards on the paddock in old hands Joe Harwood and Tomasi Kedrabuka but their backs were disappointing.
PUKETOI V PIONEER
Puketoi have often been the whipping boys of the first division series but their 27-14 win over Pioneer suggests 2008 might be a whole different story. They had a clear edge up front where Evan Small, Duncan Law, Jared Bambry and Marty van Heuckleum were all strong performers and Jason Liverton was an astute tactician at first-five and had a 100 per cent success rate withy his goal kicking.Pioneer fielded a team including many youngsters with little or experience at first level and they did enough to suggest they will improve dramatically as the season progresses.Front rower Victor Thompson was probably the pick of their players.
SCORING DETAILS:
Gladstone 30 (Tupaea, Fleming and Watene tries, Grant three conversions and three penalties), Marist 13 (Karaitiana try, Mahuri two penalties and one conversion).
Martinborough 15 (Telford and Sargent tries, Renata one conversion, Te Whare one penalty), Carterton 0.
East Coast 17 (Olson (2) and Allen tries, Farrell one conversion), Greytown 10 (Isaac try, Tosswill one penalty and one conversion).
Puketoi 27 (Hull, Hart and Marine tries, Liverton three conversions and two penalties), Pioneer 14 (Thompson and Peacock tries, Peacock two conversions).