Pioneer humble Rams

Pioneer took a leaf out of the book of a team from a much higher realm when they walloped Masterton Red Star 98-0 in their Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
The mammoth victory came just a few hours after the All Blacks had demolished Fiji 91-0 at Albany Stadium and the wins were similar on at least two fronts.
Just as the ABs had done Pioneer dominated the battle for possession and spent most of the 80 minutes camped deep in opposition territory.
And as was the case with Fiji the defensive efforts of Masterton Red Star lacked urgency and passion with much of the tackling better suited to the demands of touch rugby rather than the 15-a-side game.
Pioneer have always been a treat to watch when allowed to work up a full head of steam and both backs and forwards relished the freedom given them with many of their team's 16 tries being spectacular affairs.
Spectacular not because they were scored under any sort of intense pressure, but because they usually involved the ball being put through at least half a dozen hands.
Which is really saying something when you consider the inordinately large number of games at headquarters this season which have been marred by poor handling and passing skills.
There was one blot on the Pioneer performance though and that was that many of their jersey numbers had no relevance to those published in the match programme. When there are two No.20s on the field, for example, it's difficult-and frustrating- for spectators to identify who is responsible for what and so no list of try scorers could be published with any certainty that the names were correct.
What was clear, however, was that in teenager Jordan Fox Pioneer have an outside back of immense potential. Playing at centre, and with his father Ben calling the shots at first-five, he was given every chance to display his attacking qualities and he responded by making several clean breaks, either though clever footwork or simply a combination of strength and pace.
Another youngster to impress in the Pioneer backline was winger Alatise.He seemed completely unfazed by the fact he was one of the smaller players on the field, making several crashing runs and constantly involving himself in the action, whether it was on his wing or not. He thoroughly deserved his two tries.
Two of the older hands in Tipi Rimene and Richard Carroll had a major influence in ensuring that Pioneer kept the foot on the pedal even when well and truly in control on the scoreboard. Rimene at halfback passed and ran with authority and the same can be said of Carroll at second-five He was the prime instigator in many of his side's most potent attacks.
The Pioneer pack were a class above their opposition in all ball winning departments with the experience of Dave Ewe and Anton Kainuku always apparent. They were generally prepared to do the hard grind so that the likes of Isaac Rolls could wreak havoc in the looser aspects of the forward game.
Masterton Red Star were below full strength, and it showed. In horse racing terms they never raised a gallop with the forwards appearing half-hearted in their endeavours and their backs continually falling off tackles.
It was always going to be a struggle for them to be competitive but they were their own worst enemies, seemingly being content to play second fiddle in every area of the game. Or maybe third or fourth fiddle would be a better way of putting it!
Competition leaders Eketahuna were made to work hard for their 20-6 win over Greytown-Tuhirangi at Pirinoa.
The combined side had actually scored a one-point victory the last time the two teams had met, but on this occasion it was Eketahuna who had the better finish to their attacking play, scoring four tries without reply.
Three of those tries came in the second spell with Greytown-Tuhrangi holding a 6-5 advantage at the break.
Hooker Rob Foreman,locks Tim Iro and Josh Mackley and loosie Solly Alsop were strong performers in an Eketahuna pack which had a slight edge on their Greytown-Tuhirangi counterparts. And Simanu Simanu and Jorgi Tamani were the pick of the backs who found good metreage hard to make against a tenacious home team defence.
Tamani scored two of the Eketahuna tries with others going to Simanu and Brendan Walker.
Bart Vugurrs landed a 50m dropped goal and a penalty for Greytown-Tuhirangi but also had the misfortune to have to leave the field in the second half with a head injury.
Scoring details of the East Coast v Puketoi game were not available at time of going to press, but reports suggest it was a free-flowing game with East Coast winning by a comfortable margin.
Marist further enhanced their prospects of making it through to the top four playoffs with a comfortable 34-14 victory over Martinborough.
Phil Aporo scored two of Marist's four tries with others going to Chalie Bargh, Jaco Pieterse and Trent Vatselias.Three conversions and one penalty wrere kicked by Patrick Rimene.
Gladstone also improved their chances of a semi-finals position with an important 27-3 win over Carterton.
It was a deserved win to Gladstone who had the better of the forward exchanges and also looked sharper in the backs.
As has been the case all season Carterton were depleted by injuries-coach Steve Hurley having to take to the field for the last 15 minutes- and a Neil Rodger first half penalty was their sole scoring action.