Pioneer loss disappointing

Martinborough did East Coast a huge favour when they ground out a gutsy 15-13 win over Pioneer in their Wairarapa-Bush premier division fixture at the Park Sportsground on Saturday.
Going into this encounter, Pioneer was the only team with a decent show of heading off East Coast for the Kapene Cup, which goes to the leading team at the end of one round but their loss and East Coast's hard-fought 12-7 win over Gladstone left the Coasters in an unassailable lead with just the one series of games to go.
The points table is to be confirmed but unofficially East Coast have 36 points, Pioneer 30, Gladstone 27, Carterton and Martinborough 24, Eketahuna 22, Marist 20, Masterton Red Star 10, Greytown 7 and Featherston 0.
Martinborough were good value for their narrow victory over Pioneer in a match notable for the physicality of the forward exchanges. While both packs emerged with credit, the Martinborough eight came away with their noses in front in the battle for possession.
Experienced lock Matthew O'Neale was a tower of strength for Martinborough, for his ability to take down clean lineout ball and his willingness to scrap for ball in the mauls and broken play.
Wilbur Davies impressedas did Adam Marshall, while loosies Josh Hawkins and Nathan Kapene were quick to the breakdowns and found time to pressure the dangerous Pioneer inside backs.
The Martinborough backs played second fiddle to their forwards, but there was a comforting surety about the option taking of halfback Wal Ireland and first-five Greg Dennis, the hard running and tackling of second-five Jaco Pietrse and the reliability of centre Quentin Aspinall and fullback Eli Telford, especially in defensive situations.
Pioneer's loss would have disappointed their large band of supporters but, in reality, there was little disgrace in defeat.
Territorially they were behind for most of the first half but actually had the better of that area of play in the second.
They kept close enough on the scoreboard to always provide hope of a last-ditch win.
That would have happened had Tipi Haira landed a long-range penalty very late in the match, but it was not to be his day in the goal kicking department, as it wasn't for Martinborough either.
They, too, missed a couple of kickable penalties.
Hooker Porky Henare was the pick of the Pioneer forwards, making several rampaging bursts in broken play, while skipper Mike Harmon was a workhorse in the loose.
No8 Lee Ewe was his usual aggressive self whenever he had ball and also tackled strongly around the fringes of the mauls.
The Pioneer backs were seldom given the chance to show the best of their attacking flair, but Haira again impressed as a first-five with good balance and running skills.
Wing Joe Dahlberg-Paku generally made the most of his limited chances.
Josh Hawkins and Eli Telford scored tries for Martinborough and Greg Dennes kicked one penalty and one conversion.
Tipi Haira and Porky Henare scored tries for Pioneer and Haira kicked one penalty.
The goal kicking skills of Dan Porter have been a boon for East Coast all season and were again in their 12-7 win over Gladstone.
In a match in which the closeness of the score typified the closeness of the action, East Coast, a team with a well-deserved reputation for try-scoring propensities, registered all their points from penalties, Porter kicking four of them in all.
Gladstone scored a try through T Tikoisuva and John Bailey landed a conversion.
Eketahuna and Marist had a cliff-hanger at Eketahuna with a 13-13 draw the end result. Brendan Walker and Pita Tua-Davidson scored tries for Eketahuna and Joe Hull kicked a penalty. Keremia Waru-Smith scored Marist's sole try and James Goodger kicked two penalties and one conversion.
Carterton provided further evidence they are heading in the right direction leading into the Tui Cup championship round when they beat Masterton Red Star 43-3, scoring six tries in the process.
Jono Hurley touched down twice and other try scorers were Justin Lett, Jarrod Nyssen, Dion Field and John McFadzean.
Nyssen also kicked two conversions and three penalties.
Jamie Fraser landed one penalty for Masterton Red Star and Jake Bubb scored a try.
Greytown managed two tries to nil in beating Featherston 21-6. Brett Aitken and Tavita Issac were the try scorers with Kingi Kaiwai kicking one penalty and Rhys Lett one conversion and two penalties. J Spicer kicked two penalties for Featherston.