Marist ruin Gladstone's big day

Marist played party poopers with their last ditch 18-13 win over Gladstone in the Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match at Gladstone on Saturday.
The host club had gone to great lengths to make their old-timer's day special through a series of promotions honouring past members who had lost their lives in the two world wars, including their players wearing new jerseys with the red poppy on one breast, and a win over old rivals Marist would have been the icing on the cake.
But two missed penalties, one from almost in front, saw Gladstone go to the halftime break 6-5 down rather than with a slender lead.
Marist then scored a converted try early in the second half to open up a 13-5 margin. But for almost the remainder of that spell it was Gladstone who called the tune with their forwards threatening to batter Marist into submission through well-executed surges from both lineouts and scrums.
An unconverted try and penalty had the home side level at 13-13 and with the good-sized crowd egging them on it seemed just a matter of time before they would finally get in front.
That they didn't spoke volumes for the resolve in a Marist outfit who somehow managed to not only weather the storm but find enough energy to actually strike back in the closing stages with a series of concerted attacks of their own, one of which led to the match winning try by young centre Daniel Blong with just a couple of minutes remaining.
For the Marist forwards it was a hard day at the office but while they were outgunned in the set pieces, there was plenty to like about the mobility and ball running skills of locks James Goodger and Corey Reid and the sheer persistence of hooker Kyle Karaitiana and flanker Rhys Severn.
In first-five Nathan Couch Marist had the most influential player on the paddock. Several times he got his team out of trouble with lengthy touch finders and he was always quick to sense attacking opportunities for his outsides, of whom second-five Phil Aporo and winger Shannon Lewis were the pick.
Gladstone couldn't have wanted more from their forwards.They were outstanding in every facet, particularly so the lineouts where Tim Fleming and Andrew McLean ruled supreme and the scrums where front rowers Bevan Morland, Richard Puddy and Kurt Simmonds were the anchormen and No.8 John Stevenson an effective ball carrier. The Gladstone backs were solid but nothing more than that. They clearly lacked the flair of their Marist counterparts, although one had to admire the versatility of Scott Evan, who performed handily first at halfback and then at first-five.
Kyle Karaitiana and Daniel Blong scored tries for Marist and James Goodger kicked two penalties and one conversion. Lance Harris and Bevan Morland scored tries for Gladstone and Scott Evan kicked a penalty goal.
The big surprise in other premier division matches was the effort of Puketoi to draw 27-27 with defending champions Masterton Red Star at Pongaroa in a match which saw both teams score three tries. Jared Bropck, Duncan Law and G Hart touched down for Puketoi and S Kunde kicked three conversions and two penalties. Heemi Tupaea (2) and Jake Bubb were the Masterton Red Star try scorers and Byron Karaitiana kicked two penalties and three conversions.
Forward Tommy Sargent scored five tries as Greytown beat Pioneer 64-12 in their match at Greytown. Brett Aitken, Senoa Isaac, Matt Cameron, Tavita Issac and T Rimene also scored tries for Greytown while Kingi Kaiwai landed seven conversions. Davis and Perlie scored the tries for Pioneer and Ben Fox kicked a conversion.
Carterton edged out Eketahuna in what was always going to be a close tussle by 20-14. Lance Stevenson and John McFadzean scored the Carterton tries with Jono Hurley kicking two penalties and one conversion and Tipene Haira one conversion. Grant Creman scored a try for Eketahuna and Crete Cribb kicked three penalties.
East Coast and Martinborough also went right down to the wire with three penalties by Nick Olson giving the Coasters a 9-5 win. Keiran Te Whare scored Martinborough's try.