Tenacious defence sees Masterton Red Star through to Under 19 grand final

The tenacity of their defence played a huge part in Masterton Red Star scoring a 10-5 win over Old Boys University in their Wellington under-19 rugby competition semi-final match played in wintery conditions at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
Both teams managed one try apiece but Old Boys University had a marked advantage in both territory and possession through most of the game.
Several times throughout the second half, in particular, the visitors launched dangerous attacking moves inside the Masterton Red Star 22 but apart from the one occasion they were kept out by a Masterton Red Star defence which was as aggressive as it was enthusiastic.
Not helping the Old Boys University cause either was a tendency to concede regular penalties in the ruck and maul area with the penalty count heavily favouring Masterton Red Star by the game's end.
Masterton Red Star scored all of their points in the first half with Brock Price kicking a penalty early on and then wing Charlie Brown kicking and chasing the ball for all of 35m before scoring a try close to the posts. Price added the conversion to give the home team a 10-0 lead at the break.
The second spell saw Old Boys University spend the large bulk of the 40 minutes deep in Masterton Red Star territory but all they had to show for their efforts was their solitary try.
Prop Tereina Rimene had a strong game for Masterton Red Star up front and hooker Jonathan Hartnell was in the thick of things too until taking a knock and having to leave the field. Loosies Karl Thompson and Mike Wilson were two of the mainstays of the defence.
In the backs Masterton Red Star was well served by their inside combination of Callum Buchanan and Tipene Haira while both wing Charlie Brown and fullback Taylor Dewis were always alert to any counter attacking opportunity.
Masterton Red Star coach John Cummings was delighted with the character and resolve shown by his side in a win which reversed two narrow losses to Old Boys University in previous matches.
"We knew it would be tough going and that our defensive effort would probably decide which way it went," he said.
"We needed to stay cool under pressure and that was the key to it in the end."
Masterton Red Star will now play Northern United in the grand final with the venue and date of the match still to be confirmed at the time of going to press.
Wairarapa-Bush will also be represented in the grand final of the bottom section of the Wellington under-19 series after Greytown-Tuhirangi beat the Old Boys University B's in their semi-final.