Rugby
Marist JAB rugby is on a roll.
The Masterton-based club have increased their numbers at this level by 65 starting the 2013 season and they are now fielding two teams in each of the under-6, under-8 and under-10 grades and one team in the under-9s, under-11s and under-13s.
Having a strong coaching staff is a huge plus for Marist. Taking the under-6s are Stephen Griffin and Cam Waru, the under-8s Marcus Howie and James Goodger, the under-9s Mark Watt and Bubba Graham, the under-10s Andy McHardy and Rob Baker, the under-11s Mike Sutton and Ross Thompson and the under-13s David Nathan and Phil Cowgill.
The two under-6 teams met at the Pioneer grounds last weekend and it was a titanic battle. Sam Stringer was at his attacking best for Marist Green while their player of the day was William Johnson who excelled in both the tight and loose play. Taofiga Aetoe was a constant threat for Marist White.
The Marist White under-8s got their first win of the season when they defeated Pioneer but the Marist Greens in the same grade went down to Tuhirangi. Their second games saw the Whites go down to a very slick Gladstone unit while the Greens lost to Carterton but earned plaudits for coming back from 5-0 down to halftime to lose 6-2. Players of the day were Vadim Hargood (Greens) and Cyrus Wilson (Whites).
Marist under-9s played Carterton at Carterton and lost 60-0 with Marco Blenkin selected player of the day and Reefton Pene-Dean taking the top tackler award.
In the under-10 grade, the Marist Green team beat Gladstone 80-15 with Ethan Wallace being named player of the day while Marist White lost 20-0 to Pioneer. Their player of the day was Marshall Killion-Delaney.
Marist under-11s lost 78-0 to Carterton with Rocco Thompson earning plaudits for his tackling.
Ryan Kilpatrick stole the limelight for the Rams when their JAB teams were in action last Saturday.
Playing for the Rams Blacks in the under-8 grade, Kilpatrick ran in seven spectacular tries and played a big part in his side scoring wins over both Rams White and Tuhirangi.
The under-13 grade saw Rams Red put to the test by Greytown Black in an evenly contested first half which ended with the scores locked at 15-15 but whatever the message was at the halftime break it worked wonders for the Rams Red who exploded away to win by 60-15.
The Rams under-10s had to dig deep to beat Eketahuna 20-15 with the winning try being scored in the last minute of the match, while in the under-9s grade the unbeaten Rams White and Black teams did battle and fittingly enough it ended in a 20-20 draw. The Whites had the best of the forward battle but the Blacks had the edge in pace in the backs.
In the under-8 grade both Rams Black and Rams Grey secured two wins apiece and while Rams White suffered two losses, they were both by close margins. The under-6 teams braved the conditions with a mixed set of results.
This weekend is important for the Rams who will hold their old-timers and sponsors day on Saturday. The highlight for the JAB teams will be the under-13s playing the curtain-raiser to the senior reserves match at Memorial Park.