Last-gasp Marist hold semi hopes

Marist kept their semi-final hopes alive with a late 18-17 win over Gladstone in their Wairarapa-Bush premier division match at Memorial Park on Saturday.
Hanging tough when the odds have been stacked against them has become a Marist trait this season and this was no exception.
For a long period of the first half and most of the second, they struggled to get out of their own half because of the dominance up front by a rugged Gladstone pack relishing the conditions.
Up 17-13 with time almost up, Gladstone looked assured of what would have been a well-deserved success. But all that changed when Marist finally managed to get their hands on the ball, strung a few slick passes together and ran in the try which put their noses in front with just over a minute remaining.
It was a tough day for the Marist eight. They did well enough in the lineouts through the likes of Corey Reid and James Goodger and Reid, hooker Leuma Wilson and No 8 Joe Nuku were determined runners in broken play. But overall they were a distant second in the possession stakes. This in turn meant there was scant opportunity for their backs to display their attacking skills.
The astute Nathan Couch and Phil Aporo in the five-eighths did, however, get them out of many tight situations and wing Jordan Watene usually thrust his way through a couple of tackles whenever the ball came his way.
Gladstone's forwards did everything they could to lay the foundations for victory. Their unity in the mauls was most impressive, as was the solidness of their scrum.
Hooker Richard Puddy was in the thick of everything as were locks Andrew McLean and Tim Fleming, flanker Alistair Potts and No 8 John Stevenson.
Halfback Charlie Bargh was the pick of the backline, which were mainly content to play second fiddle to their forwards.
Leuma Wilson, Anthony Balks and Murray Gleeson scored the Marist tries and Nathan Couch kicked a penalty. Kurt Simmonds, Joseph Naivalu and Pollock were the try-scorers for Gladstone and James Mitchell landed a conversion.
Masterton Red Star led Puketoi by just 5-3 at halftime but they used the elements to advantage in the second spell, running in two converted tries to win 19-3.
If anything, however, the final scoreline did flatter Red Star to a degree as Puketoi probably broke even overall in territory and, in the first half in particular, often threatened to break open the opposition defences only to have their progress halted by a mix of sloppy passing and poor handling.
Red Star, on the other hand, were more clinical in their finishing work, although there were occasions where they also wasted prime scoring chances through basic errors.
Hooker Tom Grooby was a powerful runner in broken play for Masterton Red Star and there were strong efforts up front from Jake Bubb, Tyrone McTavish, Wade Walker and Chris Senior. Chris Osborne was a sound director of play at first-five and Joe Papaali and Joseph Dahlberg-Paku had their moments in the three-quarter line.
Puketoi were typically confrontational in their forward play with prop Jared Brock, locks James Nielsen and Luke Abbot and No 8 Hamish Walker all taking the eye. First-five Jason Liverton showed similar qualities as his opposite number Osborne and there was some good running in midfield from Simon Finnie.
McTavish scored two of the Red Star tries and Heemi Tupaea the other. Byron Karaitiana kicked two conversions. Stefan Kunde kicked one penalty for Puketoi.
Honours were shared at 6-6 when competition leaders Carterton took on second-placed Eketahuna at Carterton, with all the points coming from penalties. Tipene Haira landed two for Carterton and Crete Cribb two for Eketahuna.
East Coast were desperately seeking a win over Martinborough to remain semi-final contenders and they got what they wanted, winning 14-6. Z. Wallace scored the only try of the game for the Coasters and Nick Olson kicked three penalties. Martinborough's points came from two penalties to Darren Kapene.
Greytown had to work harder than expected for their 19-10 success over a plucky Pioneer at the Park Sportsground. Tavita Isaac and T. Sio scored the Greytown tries and Senoa Isaac kicked three penalties. Ihe Namana scored the sole Pioneer try, with Hoani Peacock kicking a penalty and Nathan Rolls a conversion.
Unofficial competition points are: Carterton 56, Eketahuna 51, Masterton Red Star and Marist 49, East Coast 47, Martinborough 35, Gladstone 26, Greytown 24, Puketoi 14 and Pioneer 1.