Martinborough muscles into semi

Martinborough earned themselves a Tui Cup semifinal spot when they scored a thrilling 14-13 win over Pioneer in the Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match on Saturday.
In what was the final round of pool games, Martinborough's home victory saw them join Pioneer in second equal place behind unbeaten East Coast in pool A with 15 points and because they had also scored a narrow win in their previous clash it was enough for the southerners to qualify for next weekend's semis.
Martinborough will meet pool B leaders Carterton at Carterton while East Coast will be at home to pool B runners-up Gladstone.
With so much at stake there was never going to be any shortage of intensity in the encounter and so it proved. The end result was in doubt right up to the final whistle with both teams meeting hard attack with equally hard defence.
"It was a great game, it could have either way," Martinborough coach Trevor Hawkins said. "Whoever lost was going to be unlucky, it was that close."
Hawkins was rapt with the manner in which his side stuck to a game plan based around controlled aggression.
"We knew they [Pioneer] would keep coming at us and how important it was to be both physical and disciplined," Hawkins said. "It was all about commitment and we had plenty of that."
Front rowers Adam Marshall and Wilbur Davies were outstanding in the tight for Martinborough with Jared Hawkins and Josh Hawkins equally prominent in the loose. But their player of the day was halfback Wal Ireland whose steadiness under pressure and astute option taking was hugely impressive.
Pioneer lost no caste in defeat, although their solitary bonus point was not enough to keep their semifinal hopes alive. With promising youngsters Porky Henare and Ihe Namana showing the way they were every bit as rugged as Martinborough up front and while their backs were generally closed down before they could work up a full head of steam there was a lot to admire about the hefty punting of first-five Tipi Haira.
Josh Hawkins and Greg Dennes scored tries for Martinborough and Dennes added two conversions. Damien Paku scored a try for Pioneer and Haira kicked two penalties and one conversion.
While Eketahuna picked up the maximum points in beating Masterton Red Star 34-0 in the premier division match at Memorial Park it was, in fact, a Masterton Red Star player who was the outstanding individual on the paddock. No8 and captain Chris Senior was the pick of a host of talented loose forwards on display, making several stirring bursts on attack, countless tackles and often scavenging successfully for the loose ball.
It was an important game for Senior who was overlooked for the Wairarapa-Bush Heartland squad in favour of three Eketahuna loosies, Johan Van Vliet, Joss Tua-Davidson and Rupeni Tamani, but may have done enough here to cause the selectors to at least have a second think.
It would be wrong, however, to leave the impression that the Eketahuna trio played poorly. Van Vliet was always a threat with his surging runs in broken play and was solid on the tackle, Tua-Davidson was typically industrious and Tamani demonstrated his versatility by playing at fullback and making a handy fist of that role. He was especially dangerous on the counter attack, invariably evading tackles.
Eketahuna also got good value out of front rowers Cam Lawrence and Brendan Walker, who both used their strength to telling effect in the scrums and the tighter aspects of the forward game.
Ever-reliable No8 Luke Mahoney and Wiremu Grace, who entered the fray in the second half, also impressed.
Halfback Matt Hohua was, apart from Tamani, the pick of the Eketahuna backs.
The youthful Masterton Red Star side might have been well beaten on the scoreboard but their endeavour could never be questioned. Their forwards gave away plenty in height and weight but with Senior setting the example they were willing scrappers for possession. Tim Grooby, Nathan Haglund, Wade Walker and Francis Keener stood out up front while in the backs Matt Henderson, Jamie Fraser and Heemi Tupaea all had their moments
Cam Lawrence, Brendan Walker, Johan Van Vliet (2) and Luke Mahoney scored the Eketahuna tries and Joe Hull who came on late in the second spell, landed two conversions.
East Coast did not have everything all their own way against Greytown at Whareama but did enough to come away with a comfortable 35-13 win. Their try scorers were Zeb Aporo (2), Nick Olson, Karim Brown and Richie Cameron. Nick Olson kicked a penalty and Jordan Carroll two conversions and one penalty.Tavita Isacc scored two tries for Greytown and Lawrence Matthews kicked a penalty.
Carterton ran in eight tries in their 46-10 thumping of Marist at Carterton. Dylan Higgison and Brock Price both touched down twice while other try scorers were Levai Volavola, Sam Hull, Corey McFadzean and Blair Heming. Jared Nyssen kicked three conversions. James Goodger and Dennis Feidelberg scored tries for Marist.
Gladstone three-quarter Michael Vuicikau showed just why he is a candidate for a regular Wairarapa-Bush berth this season by running in four tries in his team's 51-5 beating of Featherston. Joe Nuku, Inia Katiua, Joe Bailey, Joseva Naivalu and Andy McKay also scored tries for Gladstone and Bailey kicked three conversions. Ryan Hambleton scored Featherston's try.
Final pool points:
Pool A: East Coast 23, Martinborough 15, Pioneer 15, Greytown 11, Marist 1.
Pool B: Carterton 20, Gladstone 17, Eketahuna 16, Featherston 5, Masterton Red Star 1.