Greytown and Pioneer extract full points

Rugby

Defending champions Greytown and Pioneer share the lead after the opening two series of matches in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's Tui Cup premier division competition.

They have both picked up the maximum five points - four for a win and an extra point for scoring four or more tries - in both their matches to sit on 10 points, just one ahead of East Coast on 9. Then come Eketahuna 6, Martinborough 3, Gladstone 2 and Carterton and Marist, both of whom have yet to open their account.

Fifty-seven tries have been scored in the Tui Cup with Greytown leading the way with 16, 10 of them coming in their 69-0 defeat of Bush Sports at Pahiatua on Saturday. East Coast have dotted down on nine occasions, Pioneer and Eketahuna eight, Gladstone five, Martinborough and Carterton four and Marist three. Bush Sports are yet to cross the line.

Gladstone utility back Cameron Hayton remains the top individual points scorer in Wairarapa-Bush rugby this season.

He has scored 136 - 117 of them in the Kapene Cup first round series - while Pioneer halfback Joseph Thompson has 107 and Tipene Haira (Martinborough) 85.

The Tui Cup draw for Saturday is: Bush Sports v Carterton at Pahiatua, East Coast v Pioneer at Whareama, Gladstone v Marist at Gladstone, Martinborough v Eketahuna at Martinborough, Greytown a bye.

Meanwhile, the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union board has elected one of its four independent members, Paora Ammunson, as its new chairman.

He has a long involvement in the sport, including being project manager of the cultural programme for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in partnership with Te Puni Kokiri.