Greytown march on

Rugby

Greytown's comprehensive 37-12 victory over East Coast in round 6 sees the southerners with one hand on the Moose Kapene Cup, awarded to the leading club after the first round of fixtures.

The home side ran in six tries to Coast's two with John Lyford, Kahu Fruean-Walker, Paul Freeman, Shaun Duffy, Tavita Isaac and Taylor Fenwick all dotting down while Hamish Meyrick converted two and added a penalty. In reply, Sam Barbour and Tom Bowie crossed the chalk for the Coasties with Nick Olson adding one conversion.

While first-five Alex Gibson put in a man-of-the-match performance for Coast and lock Wiremu Grace and No 6 Joe Feast also featured strongly, Greytown remain undefeated this season and are emerging as a clinical side who are making a real statement to the rest of the clubs - catch us if you can.

The big question remains unanswered, though. Will this early-season form transfer itself to the second round of games? History has shown is not always the case. The jury is out on that one but Greytown have set the level of the bar and to date no other club has been able to match up.

Meanwhile, at Jeans St, Pioneer went down to the improving Martinborough 25-15 who retained the Reiri Cup played between the two clubs while the day also served as old timer's day.

The Pioneer faithful were out in strong numbers but their side was unable to come to the party with a result which, outside of real boilovers in the remaining three rounds, sees them relinquish the Kapene Cup.

Down 5-0 at the break to a workmanlike Martinborough side whose pack dominated up front and who invariably got over the advantage line with strong runs in broken play, Pioneer failed to make full use of the elements in the second half. With the setting sun and wind at their backs the home side lacked a kicker who could turn the Martinborough team round and make them defend from their own half.

Pioneer spent too much time in their own territory, looking to play the ball along their backline in addition to being pinged too often for infringements around the ruck and maul. Tries to stand-in first-five Himiona Haira and Sean Robinson with Joseph Thompson adding a conversion and a penalty proved to be too little too late. In the meantime Nathan Hunt and Marley Thoranaar (twice) had crossed the chalk for Martinborough, with Tipene Haira adding two conversions and two penalties.

In Pahiatua, Gladstone came away with the spoils against Bush Sports. Halfback Inia Katia and winger Cameron Hayton (two) scored for Gladstone with Hayton also adding a conversion and two penalties. In reply Dylan Bennett and Josh Shanahan dotted down for Bush with Jackson Clince adding one conversion.

The closest scoreline of the day was played out at Memorial Park where Marist just took the honours, outscoring Carterton three tries to two, to claim a 15-13 victory. Unconverted tries accounted for all Marist's points, with halfback Hemi Walker and Seuituli Tafa getting on the scoresheet while Johnny McFadzean and Carlos Rimene replied for Carterton, with Daryl Pickering adding a penalty.

In the remaining fixture, Puketoi proved no match for a rampant Eketahuna side who ran in eight tries. There was no stopping barnstorming No 8 Rupeni Tamani who went on his own personal try fest, touching down five times.