Martinborough monster Puketoi

Martinborough used the flair and pace of their backs to advantage as they swept aside Puketoi 48-6 in the grand final of the Wairarapa-Bush senior second division rugby competition at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
Puketoi came out all guns blazing and took the early lead through a Jason Liverton penalty and such was the urgency in their forward play that even when trailing 19-6 at halftime they were still in the game.
The second half, however, saw Martinborough lift their effort a cog or two and with the forwards supplying a steady stream of quality ball for their speedy backs the tries came at regular intervals.
Locks Matt O'Neale and Craig Jones were strong performers in a Martinborough pack in which front rowers Wayne Jephson, Dan Hawkins and Scott Madden were also prominent.
Halfback Marcus Henson and first-five Keiran Tee Whare sized up their options quickly and intelligently with Te Whare, especially, impressing with his eye for a gap and the acceleration to make the most of it Puketoi had a trio of hard grafters in Evan Small, Jared Bambry and David Robertson up front and Liverton's soundness at first-five made him the pick of their backs. Josh Rankin, Ewan Telford, Jared Hawkins (2) Matt O'Neale, T. Te Kani and R Brown scored tries for Martinborough and they were also awarded a penalty try. Keiran Te Whare kicked five conversions. Jason Liverton kicked two penalties for Puketoi.
Colts final
Wairarapa-Bush may have a dearth of quality first-fives at senior level but the grand final of the colts grade between Masterton Red Star and Pioneer showed that may be about to change.
Both first-fives there, Tipene Hiara for Masterton Red Star and David Warren for Pioneer, made a huge impression with the length of their line kicking and their tactical nous. Masterton Red Star took the title with a 13-0 win but while they deserved the spoils their winning margin might have been a trifle on the flattering side.
Pioneer gave every bit as good as they received in a first half which ended with Masterton Red Star leading 5-0 and while the latter had the edge in both territory and possession in the second spell Pioneer did manage to create a couple of prime scoring chances. Lock Thomas Scott and loosies Mike Wilson and Brock Price were the mainstays of the Masterton Red Star pack and dual try scorer Charlie Brown was an elusive runner amongst the backs. No.8 Lee Ewe made several surging runs for Pioneer and others to shine for them included prop Kupu Henare, halfback Levi Edmonds and fullback Hoani Peacock. Charlie Brown scored two tries for Masterton Red Star and Tipene Hiara kicked one penalty.
Senior thirds final
The senior third division grand final saw Marist produce a minor upset when they downed Masterton Red Star 16-10 to reverse two beatings suffered at the hands of Masterton Red Star earlier in the season.
Marist assistant coach Mark Hamilton said his side had gone into the competition decider determined to take the game to Masterton Red Star by moving the ball around at every opportunity, and their fitness had been a key part in their victory.
"We didn't want to get involved in a forward slog, that would have played into their hands," Hamilton said.
Centre Jason Kerrisk was a key player in a Marist backline which often looked dangerous on the attack and Nathan Gleeson, one of his team's two try scorers, also shone. Up front it was old hands like Rob Allanson and Vern Boyce who showed the way. Masterton Red Star scored two tries of their own and were always close enough on the scoreboard to be a winning chance. Their forwards toiled away well in the tighter exchanges but their backs found it difficult to breach the Marist defence. Gladstone made it a day to remember for their club when they took out the President's grade grand final beating Eketahuna 17-7.