Carterton hold on against Marist in thrilling finish

By WALT DICKSON

As is often said good things take time, and that was the case in the Tui Cup clash between Carterton and Marist at Trust House Memorial Park in Masterton.

After a sloppy first 60-minutes that would have left many of the players hoping referee Ali Payne would blow an early end to it, the match came to life for a thrilling final quarter.

Carterton hung on for a 16-13 win, in large part to some gutsy defence, and with that have booked a home semi-final with one round still to play.

Poor handling dogged the first half with the only highlight a front on tackle which floored beefy Carterton midfielder Brock Price after which he exited the game.

Twice Carterton were denied tries and with a penalty apiece it was 3-all at the break.

Marist made the better start in the second half and should have gone ahead after a strong break from Michael Te Whare only for the final pass to go aground. They looked to have made amends when Te Whare crashed over a short time later but Payne pulled them back for shepherding.

Andy Humberstone and James Goodger again traded penalties.

With a little over 20-minutes to go the game burst into life. From the kick-off Goodger was taken out in the air, the culprit Jesse Brown, and Carterton were reduced to 14-players for ten minutes.

Against the run of play Carterton managed a penalty, Humberstone’s third of the game. Marist then took the initiative and with the extra player worked a big over-lap allowing for the super talented Goodger to score near the upright, 13-9 Marist.

Carterton roared back camping deep inside Marist territory. After a wave of pick-and-go the Marist defence eventually buckled and prop Jacko Hull muscled over for a five pointer.

Down 16-13 Marist weren’t finished and threw everything at the round one Moose Kapene Cup champions. They looked to have snatched a last gasp victory only for the final pass to be dropped and it was game, set and match Carterton.

In other matches Gladstone kept alive their play-off hopes by beating Eketahuna 27-15, defending champions Greytown were 29-nil winners over East Coast and Pioneer came away from their trip south with a hard fought 29-25 win over Martinborough.

Burger King Senior Reserves :
Senior Reserves Reserves Top 6
Pioneer 33 v 17 Marist
Greytown 27 v 34 Tuhirangi
Martinborough 22 v 44 Mstn Red Star

Senior Reserves Reserves Bottom 6
Carterton 15 v 36 Puketoi
Gladstone 00 v 45 Featherston
Pioneer OB 77 v 12 East Coast

Scorers in Tui Cup as follows

Greytown 29 v 00 East Coast
Greytown Scorers:
Tries : Gareth van dalen x2, Setty Sammons x1
Conversions : Abe Southey x1
Penalties: Abe Southey x 4

East Coast Scorers: N/A
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Eketahuna 15 v 27 Gladstone
Eketahuna Scorers: NOT RECEIVED
Tries : —
Conversions : —
Penalties: —

Gladstone Scorers:
Tries : J.Ross, T.Griffith, R.Puddy, A.McLean
Conversions : T.Griffith x2
Penalties: T.Griffith x1
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Marist 13 v 16 Carterton {* = Nunn Shield Game}
Marist Scorers:
Tries : James Goodger
Conversions : James Goodger
Penalties: James Goodger x2

Carterton Scorers:
Try : Jacko Hull x1
Conversions : Andy Humberstone x1
Penalties: Andy Humberstone x3
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Martinborough 25 v 29 Pioneer
Martinborough Scorers: NOT RECEIVED
Tries : —
Conversions : —
Penalties: —

Pioneer Scorers:
Tries : C.Gray, T.Haira, N.Ewe, L.Ewe (x2)
Conversions : R.Calkin x2
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PROVISIONAL Standings are: