Final semi spots for Pioneer, Gladstone
The semi-finalists in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union’s Tui Cup premier division have been found with one series of preliminary round matches still to be played.
Eketahuna and Greytown were guaranteed places in the top four going into Saturday’s action and they will be joined there by Gladstone and Pioneer who picked up enough competition points from their respective matches to ensure a strong late surge from Martinborough would not be enough for the southerners to claim a semi-final berth.
The current points table sees Eketahuna up front on 52pts, followed by Greytown 46, Gladstone and Pioneer 35, Martinborough 29, East Coast 23, Marist 19 and Carterton 16.
With five the maximum number of points which can be taken from any one game the result of next weekend’s preliminary round matches will not affect who makes it through to the semis but it will decide who plays who there.
As the two two top seeds Eketahuna and Greytown will have home advantage with Eketahuna playing the fourth qualifier and Greytown the third. Right now Gladstone and Pioneer are equal third on points so the results of their last preliminary games will dictate the semis draw. Gladstone will be at home to Martinborough and Pioneer likewise to Greytown.
Three of the four premier division games on Saturday produced close results, the only exception being that between Martinborough and Carterton. There Martinborough continued the fine form they have shown over the past month with a 30-8 victory. Nathan Hunt (2), Himiona Haira and Nathan Kapene were their try scorers and Tipene Haira brought up his century of points for the club season by landing two conversions and two penalties. Corey Casey scored Carterton’s sole try and Andrew Humberstone kicked a penalty.
Eketahuna and Pioneer had a battle royal at Eketahuna with a 7-7 draw being the end result. Jesse Williams scored a try for Eketahuna and Tom Meuli kicked a conversion while for Pioneer Jaden Mason scored a try and Joseph Thompson kicked a conversion.
It was two tries apiece when East Coast and Marist clashed at Memorial Park but East Coast had the greater fortune in the goal kicking department. Zeb Apro and Nick Olson scored the East Coast tries and Olson also kicked two conversions and two penalties. Shannon Rimene and Malatai Malatai were the Marist try scorers and James Goodger kicked a conversion.
Greytown got back on a winning track but there was precious little between them and Gladstone, Greytown scraping home 16-13. Luke Dingle and Kingi Kaiwai scored Greytown’s tries and Dingle and Raymond Oakley kicked a penalty apiece. Inia Katia scored Gladstone’s try and Andrew Fell kicked one conversion and two penalties.
Senior reserve results. Top five: Greytown 16, Eketahuna 15; Martinborough 73, Marist 7. Bottom four: Carterton 18, Gladstone 10.
By Gary Caffell – WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE
