Masterton Red Star issue title warning

Masterton Red Star served notice they aren't about to relinquish the first division title they won last year without a decent fight in beating Carterton 20-10 when club rugby matches got under way in Wairarapa-Bush on Saturday.
It was a solid all-round effort by Masterton Red Star with their forwards having the edge on their Carterton counterparts in most departments and big kicking first-five Byron Karaitiana ensuring they played much of the game in opposition territory.
As a spectacle, however, the game was largely marred by the frequent penalties handed out by vigilant referee Scott Andrew, the huge majority of them going against Carterton and most coming in the contentious tackled ball area.
The hefty penalty count meant attacking movements of any substance were few and far between, although there were glimpses of individual brilliance in that respect.
One of the more notable came just after halftime when lively Masterton Red Star halfback Sam Parker broke from the base of a scrum about 20m out from the Carterton line and dashed away to score under the posts. Another came late in the second spell when speedy Carterton winger Charlie Brown won the race to the ball to score after fullback Jono Hurley had placed a neatly-judged kick in behind the Masterton Red Star defence.
Masterton Red Star would have well been satisfied with the graft of their tight forwards with Jacob Bubb leading the way and front rowers Mike Chrisohoou and Tim Grooby in close support. And there were no more constructive loosies than skipper Chris Senior and Jordan Sutherland, who were quick to the breakdowns and reliable tacklers. Sutherland was also his side's best lineout forward, grabbing several clean takes.
The inside back combination of Parker and Karaitiana worked well for Masterton Red Star with Parker varying his play intelligently and Karaitiana belting the ball a country mile every time the opportunity arose. Winger Joseph Dahlberg-Paku darted his way to a first half try and always looked dangerous when given room. Carterton, who have several new faces this season, played their best rugby in the opening stanzas with the big penalty count against them clearly affecting their rhythm and intensity as the game progressed. No8 Johnny McFadzean did enough, however, to suggest he could be representative material as the season progresses, as indeed did his brother Lachie at lock, and Tomasi Kedrabuka was typically prominent in the lineouts.
Dahlberg-Paku and Parker scored tries for Masterton Red Star and Karaitiana kicked two conversions and two penalties. Brown scored a try for Carterton with Reece Lett kicking one penalty and Hurley one conversion.
Nick Olson scored all but five of his side's points when East Coast scored a 25-18 win over Gladstone. Olson and Jesse McGilvary were the try scorers for East Coast and Olson added three penalties and three conversions. Baden Stevenson (2) and Bevan Moreland scored tries for Gladstone and S Pullar kicked a penalty.
Martinborough ran in 10 tries in defeating Pioneer 58-7 with among those to touch down being Trevor Durie (2), Eli Telford, Wal Ireland, James Bruce, Peter Ireland and Jaco Pieterse. A. Henare-Kupu scored a try for Pioneer and Nathan Rolls landed a conversion.
Marist started their season off in good style with a 48-6 defeat of Puketoi. Corey Reid had a strong game up front for Marist and he was one of their try scorers along with N. Hurley, Daniel Blong, Shane Lewis, Terry Norman and James Goodger. Puketoi's points came from two penalties to S. Kunde.
Eketahuna beat Greytown 40-18. Tamani scored a brace of tries for the Bush side and others to register five pointers included C Cribb, K Oliver and Luke Mahoney. The Isaac brothers, Senoa and Tavita, were the try scorers for Greytown.