Greytown have easy win on points

Rugby

Greytown were the dominant team in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's Chris Kapene Memorial Cup rugby competition in more ways than one.

Not only did the southerners finish six points clear of their nearest rivals, Martinborough, but they also recorded the most tries (40) and kicked the most conversions (22).

Overall 203 tries were scored by the nine teams who finished the competition - Puketoi withdrawing through a shortage of players - with Greytown easily the most prolific scorers.

Next best was East Coast with 28, followed by Pioneer 26, Martinborough 22, Gladstone 21, Carterton 18, Eketahuna 18, Bush 17 and Marist 13.

Interestingly, however, Greytown managed just 55 per cent of their conversion attempts, placing them behind East Coast and Martinborough whose success rate was 68 per cent, Pioneer (58) and Gladstone (57).

Gladstone utility back Cameron Hayton, who made the national Heartland squad last year, made no race of the battle to be individual top points scorer.

He registered 117 points, well ahead of Pioneer's goal-kicking halfback Joseph Thompson who chalked up 85.

Then came Tipene Haira (Martinborough) 81, Hamish Meyrick (Greytown) 62 and Tavita Isaac (Greytown) and Tom Meuli (Eketahuna), who both scored 45.

Hayton shared the top try-scoring honours with Greytown winger Isaac.

They touched down on nine occasions while East Coast flanker Ben Holmes scored seven tries, Sean Robinson (Pioneer) six and Teihana Brown (Greytown) and Taylor Fenwick (Greytown) both five.

Saturday sees the opening series of matches in the main championship, the Tui Cup, with Greytown looking to defend the title they won after a lengthy drought last season.

They will be away to Marist while Bush will host East Coast, Eketahuna will be at home to Carterton and Pioneer have home advantage over Gladstone.