Greytown were the party poopers when they beat Rams 18-13 in their Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.
In what was the feature of the Rams (Masterton Red Star) old-timers' day celebrations there was very little between the two sides in terms of territory and possession and the result virtually came down to who had the better finish to their attacking movements. And there it was Greytown who had the edge, scoring two tries to their opponents' one.
Impressive for Greytown in an evenly contested forward battle were front rowers Kurt Simmonds, PJ Freeman and Jaden Carter, while lock Gareth Van Dalen shone in the lineouts.
Captain Chris Senior was a standout for the Rams with his speed and constructiveness in the loose and both Owen Riddell and Daniel Gilmore grafted away solidly in the tighter exchanges.
Lively halfback Joseph Sio and pacy wing Tavita Isaac were the pick of the Greytown backs, while Heemi Tupaea made the most of his limited opportunities for the Rams.
Martinborough and Bush Sports managed two tries apiece in their fixture at Pahiatua but the kicking of Kieran te Whare took Martinborough to a 21-14 success. He landed three penalties and a conversion. It was Bush Sports first defeat of the 2012 season and they now have the same win-loss record as Martinborough.
Tries came thick and fast when East Coast and Carterton did battle. East Coast scored six of them and Carterton four with East Coast taking the honours 35-24.
Pioneer struck a depleted Eketahuna line-up at the Jeans Street grounds in Masterton and pacy winger Damien Kamko-Paku ran in three of their nine tries in a 57-25 romp. And at Pongoroa Gladstone kept a determined Puketoi at bay 28-10.
Scoring details.-
Martinborough 21 (P. Aporo, N. Hunt tries; K. te Whare 3 penalties, 1 conversion), Bush Sports 14 (D. Bennett, C. Creek tries; Bennett 2 conversions.
East Coast 34 (W. Grace, T. Bowie, B. Karaitiana 2, M. O'Connor, N. Olson tries; Karaitiana 2 conversions), Carterton 25 (B. Heming, J. Lett, T. Vatuloka and L. Jones tries; D. Brown 1 penalty, 1 conversion).
Greytown 18 (T. Isaac, J. Carter tries; H. Meyrick 2 penalties,1 conversion); Rams 13 (H. Tupaea try; M. Henderson 2 penalties, 1 conversion).
Pioneer 57 (N. Ewe, D. Kamo-Paku 3, S. Lewis, G. Paku, H. Peacock, C. Brown 2 tries; T. Haira 2 penalties, 3 conversions); Eketahuna 25 (D. Aspinall, J. Van Vliet tries, penalty try; T. Meuli 1 penalty, 1 conversion).
Gladstone 28 (I. Katia 2, G. Wood, A. McKay tries; G. Wood 3 conversions, R. Puddy 1 conversion); Puketoi 10 (C. Pullen try, T. Duxfield 1 penalty 1 conversion).
A hat-trick of tries to Black Fern Shakira Baker took Eketahuna to a 17-14 win over Old Boys University in their Wellington women's premier division rugby match played at Eketahuna.