Rugby
Tui Cup holders Greytown will defend their title against Eketahuna when the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union hold their finals day at Memorial Park, Masterton, next weekend.
The two teams earned the right to contest the major premier division trophy with wins in two enthralling semifinals played on Saturday.
Eketahuna stalled a brave Pioneer 28-20 at Eketahuna and Greytown beat East Coast 31-23 in their match at Greytown after getting out to a 31-6 lead at one stage.
Adding to the occasion at Eketahuna was one of the biggest crowds to have watched a club match in years and they were thoroughly entertained in a game which, as expected, saw the combatants adopt entirely different tactics.
For Eketahuna it was a case of keeping the ball close to their much-vaunted pack while Pioneer were more intent on spreading it wide and giving their pacey three-quarter line every opportunity to outflank the home team defence.
It was ironic, then, that the best of the five tries scored during the match came through the individual brilliance of Eketahuna fullback Dylan Bennett, whose counter-attacking skills were apparent throughout the game. His 20m dash to the goal-line late in the second half saw him evade would-be tacklers with a mix of nifty footwork and rapid acceleration.
That try, converted by Tom Meuli, gave Eketahuna a 25-13 advantage but any thoughts of them being able to coast to victory in the closing stages quickly dissipated when Pioneer roared back on attack and front-rower Ihe Namana crashed over for a try which Joseph Thompson converted. It was now on for young and old but to Eketahuna's credit they finished the stronger and a penalty to Meuli gave them an eight-point buffer.
No 8 Rupeni Tamani was the standout in an Eketahuna pack. He made several surging runs off the back of the scrum, was a regular winner of lineout ball and tackled strongly whenever Pioneer looked to make ground around the fringes of the rucks and mauls.
Fellow loosies Johan Van Vliet and skipper Joss Tua-Davidson gave Tamani excellent support and lock Dan Griffin was typically industrious in all areas of the tight game.
But Bennett was the star of the Eketahuna backline, not only for his attacking skills but for his astute positional play and safety under the high ball. Halfback Clint Algie and first-five Meuli had the job of ensuring their forwards were kept on the front foot and they were effective in that regard. Meuli also got through a power of work on cover defence.
Pioneer's forwards might have lacked the unity of the Eketahuna eight but nobody could quibble at their commitment. Ihe Namana and Quintin Trass grafted away in the tighter exchanges all game and Nathan Rolls and Lee Ewe were typically assertive with ball in hand.
The two wingers, Damian Kamo-Paku and Charlie Brown, more than once had Pioneer supporters on their toes by using their pace to make room for themselves. Stu Waipuka was good value on both attack and defence in midfield and Joseph Thompson again appealed as a halfback of uncommon promise.
Try-scorers for Eketahuna, which trailed 10-6 at halftime, were Brendon Walker, Brad Harriman and Dylan Bennett and Tom Meuli kicked two conversions and three penalties.
Damian Kamo-Paku and Ihe Namana scored tries for Pioneer and Joseph Thompson kicked two conversions and two penalties.
It looked all over bar the shouting in the other semifinal when Greytown survived early East Coast pressure before dominating the scoring action and racing away to a 31-6 lead.
However, the last quarter belonged entirely to East Coast with three late tries giving them respectability on the scoreboard, and some nervous moments for Greytown at the same time.
PJ Freeman, Khan Fruean-Walker, Glen Walters and Tapaga Isaac scored tries for Greytown and Glen Walters kicked three penalties and one conversion.
Jeff Meredith, Nick Olson and Zeb Aporo were the East Coast try scorers with Byron Karaitiana kicking two penalties and Robert O'Neale one conversion.
Other semifinal results
Hodder Steffert Plate premier division: Gladstone 30 (Cameron Hayton 3, Hayden Manley tries, John Bailey dropped goal, Hayton two conversions and one penalty), Marist 26 (Pua Tafa 2, Anthony Balks, Shannon Rimene tries; James Goodger three conversions)
Carterton beat Bush Sports by default.
Ryan Cup senior reserve: Masterton Red Star 18, Greytown 13; Martinborough 25, Tuhirangi 19.
President Cup Plate senior reserve: East Coast 67, Gladstone 8; Eketahuna 13, Carterton 5.