Greytown go back to back

By WALT DICKSON

Fancy footwork from Nick Olson and Glen Walters proved the difference as Greytown beat Carterton 27-13 in the Tui Cup final in Masterton this evening.

In a fitting end to a tightly fought competition in the Wairarapa-Bush premier one club rugby grade, Greytown and Carterton played out a thrilling final.

It was the icing on the cake for a great day of finals rugby which saw three other pieces of silverware get decided.

As defending champions Greytown were always expected to have a slight edge heading into the match.

However, it was Carterton who made the better start applying pressure and forcing a mistake which ultimately led to the first try. Carterton play-maker Andy Humberstone seized on a failed touch finder from Greytown and set off down the blindside. From the second phase No.8 Johnie McFadzean crashed over for the opening points.

Humberstone’s sideline conversion was shortly followed up by a penalty to have Carterton scoring at nearly a point a minute.

Abe Southey knocked over a penalty for Greytown and then wing AJ Manley turned something out of nothing when he got on the end of a wobbly cross kick from Kingi Kaiwai to shoot 25 metres and score in the corner.

Manley’s five pointer seemed to give Greytown a confidence boost and all of a sudden they were passing more freely. From a counter attack Nick Olson hung on to a pass and raced up field splitting the defence. His off load was brilliantly taken in by centre Glen Walters who went ever so close to scoring. Walters had the presence of mind to take the tackle and hold the ball up for Olson who dived over under the posts. Southey missed the conversion and with Humberstone kicking a second penalty the scores were locked up 13-all at the break.

Southey was off target again with his boot in the second half but Olson kept the score board ticking over with a second try, a beauty that spanned 60 metres and included multiple phases.

Carterton were not done but although they managed to retrain possession they struggled to make make any real gains into Greytown’s territory. Twice Humberstone missed penalty shots and with the clock ticking time was running out.

Then Greytown made the killer blow. Just when Carterton threatened to score the ball was spilled in the tackle and Ray Oakley’s big clearance kick sent the maroons scrambling. From the half way line the ball was toed ahead and Walters won the race to score near the upright.

In other matches, East Coast upset Eketahuna 27-26 to win the Hodder Seffert Premier-Two Cup, Tuhirangi edged out Pioneer 17-13 in the Ryan Cup (Senior Thirds Top Six), while Pioneer Old Boys were too strong for Puketoi in the Presidents Cup (Senior Thirds Bottom 6) winning 36-19.

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