Marist looking good

If Friday night’s Moose Kapene Cup opener is anything to go by we are in for a cracking season of club rugby.

Under lights, at Trust House Memorial Park, Marist got up to win 24-15 in an entertaining match.

Victorious coach Nathan Riwai-Couch called it a “good rugby spectacle” and bodes well for a top 2017 competition.

In scoring four tries to three Marist bagged maximum points with Riwai-Couch wrapped with the way his chargers stood up against their largely bigger opposites in the forwards.

Nowhere was this more evident than in the performance of loose-head prop Ryan Hargood. Fresh out of school, (Wairarapa College), Hargood scooped his team’s Player of the Day award with a terrific game.

In contrast to Hargood, on the other side of the scrum, is Stan Wright. Hugely experienced, the former Tongan international and Wairarapa-Bush player had a major influence, Riwai-Couch says.

Scoring first Marist always had their noses in front with Leo Eneliko, Daniel Glesson, Rhys Severn and Stan Wright dotting down tries, while James Goodger kicked two conversions. Open-side loosie Johan van Vliet was one of Eketahuna’s best along with Alex Metekingi.

Eketahuna coach Chris Osborne says his players looked a little under-done, but did enough to give them confidence for the season ahead.

Elsewhere, Gladstone ran in seven tries in their 50-22 routing of East Coast. Young Brad Griffith kicked 13-points. Defending champions Greytown were too strong for neighbours Martinborough winning 34-10, while Carterton and Pioneer finished all square on 22 apiece.

RESULTS:

Round 1  – April 7th – 8th Friday – April 7th Marist 24.vs.15 Eketahuna Marist: Tries: L.Eneliko, D.Gleeson, R.Severn, S.Wright  ; Conv: J. Goodger (2) Eketahuna:  Tries: Dion Harvea, Alex Metekingi,Thomas Melli
	April 8th		– Saturday-
	Greytown		34.vs.10		Martinborough
Greytown:  Tries: Tavita Issac ,Hamish Meyrick, Caine Osborne, Luke Dingle, Nick Olson ; Conv. Nick Olson (3) ; Pen. Nick Olson (1) Martinborough:  Try: Armyn Sanders ;  Conv. Alex priest (1) Pen. Alex priest (1)
	Gladstone		50.vs.22		East Coast
Gladstone :  Tries: S Day, J Gatenby, N Griffith, S Harpham, A McLean, R Knell (2) ; Conv. B Griffith (5), I Katia (1) ;Pens B Griffith (1) East Coast:  Tries: J.Meredith, Epeli , B.Arnold, Conv. J.Greggs (2) Pens J.Greggs (1)
Carterton		22.vs.22		Pioneer
Carterton: Tries: T Hopwood, F Muller, U Walker ; Conv. S Va’eno (2) ; Pen: S Va’eno (1) Pioneer:  Tries: Nikora Ewe, Conan Gray, Himiona Haira, Jonte Miller ; Conv. Joseph Thompson  (1)