Greytown out pace Pioneer

It took Greytown 40-minutes to work out how to beat Pioneer in Masterton this afternoon. And once they had, it looked easy.

The southerners scored 24-unanswered points in the second half to win 29-7.

Down 7-5 at the break, the defending Tui Cup champions were clearly on the back foot, but they lifted the tempo in the second half exposing Pioneer in broken play.

The home team leaked two tries in quick succession in the third quarter and then a third ten minutes from the end.

The maximum point win lifts Greytown to a share of top spot with Gladstone, who were beaten 20-19 by Eketahuna on Friday night.

Nick Olson was the star of the show for Greytown, scoring a scintillating try and also featuring in a number of strong breaks. Pioneer looked powerless at times to contain the free-running full-back.

Kept quiet in the first half, Greytown’s big men also got in on the act in the second revelling in the faster pace. Loose forward Chaz Matthews got through a heap of work as did No.8 Tavita Isaac.

Earlier, it had been all Pioneer, who were dictating terms and several times had the visitors on the ropes. Left wing Nikora Ewe scored the opening try when he cut back in to gather a pass from centre Damian Kamo-Paku and dot down. Joe Thompson converted.

Ewe was one of Pioneer’s best performers in the opening forty with his rampaging runs helping to put his side on the front foot. First-five eighth Hoani Peacock was also good value keeping Greytown in their own half with a smart kicking game.

The second half was a different story with both players caught up in the defensive scramble.

When second-five eight Michael Te Whare scored for Greytown late in their first half it gave a glimpse of what was about to unfold. Putting Pioneer under pressure Greytown worked an overlap and Te Whare comfortably ran into hole to score.

Within minutes of the second half getting underway Greytown were piling on the pressure. Chaz Matthews bashed his way over the line for the second try and moments later when first-five eighth Raniera Petersen scored under the posts Greytown were on a roll.

A penalty put Greytown further in front tipping Pioneer’s frustration to boiling point as they lost a man to the sin bin.

Olson had the final say, hitting the line at speed, then stepping inside to run in for a beauty and with it seal Pioneer’s fate.

In other matches, Martinborough chalked up their first win of the season beating Marist 35-33, while Carterton continued East Coast’s misery winning 41-18

PROVISIONAL SCORES
Moose Kapene Premiers
Round 5 – May 5th
Eketahuna 20 v 19 Gladstone