A dramatic finish highlighted the Wairarapa-Bush JAB under-13 grand final rugby match at Memorial Park last Saturday with Rams Black scoring a last minute try to beat Pioneer 32-29.
Watched by a good-sized and vocal crowd, the two sides played themselves to a standstill and provided the perfect lead-in to the Wairarapa-Bush v Poverty Bay senior representative fixture that followed.
The lead was traded back and forth during most of the game but Rams Black seemed to have the title in safe keeping when they jumped out to a 27-19 lead with just 10 minutes to play.
However, Pioneer roared right back into contention with two tries to snatch a 29-27 advantage and time was almost up when Rams Black speedster Tua Levi broke clear about halfway, evaded several tackles as he scooted up the sideline and touched down for the try which secured his side the Dickson Shield for 2012. Not surprisingly Levi was later named the Rams player of the week.
No 8 and captain Rhemus Namana was another Rams Black player to shine, with lock Aaron Bacon and the Sprowson brothers in the backs, Stephen and Anthony.
Pioneer were brave in defeat with first-five Issac Walker and centre Tane McGregor shining in the backs and Hone Graham likewise in the forwards.
That victory completed a marvellous weekend for the Rams who won two other grand finals and a plate final to boot.
It all started in the under-8s where the two top teams Rams Black and Martinborough did battle in the competition decider. The tight defence of both sides was the feature of the first half which ended at 1-0 to the Rams after a late try by prop Rhemus Hullett. And the second spell was as tense as the first and it was only near the end that Zac McPhail ran in two long-range tries for the Rams to seal the win.
In the under-8s plate section, Rams White managed two wins to take the honours there.
The under-10s grand final was always going to be won by the Rams as it was a clash between Rams Black and Rams White. Through most of the season there has been little between these sides but this time it was Rams Black who played the best rugby and they ran out comfortable 30-15 winners.
Results for the Rams on Saturday were:
Under-6: Rams Black two wins, Rams White one win, one loss.
Under-8s: Rams Black two wins, Rams White two wins, Rams Grey two losses.
Under-9s: Eketahuna 75, Rams 0.
Under-10s: Rams Black 30, Rams White 15.
Under-13s: Rams Black 32, Pioneer 29; Eketahuna 25, Rams White 22.
In other Wairarapa-Bush JAB grand finals on Saturday Martinborough beat Pioneer in the under-9s and Pioneer turned the tables on Martinborough in the under-11s.
Last Wednesday saw Greytown and Gladstone-East Coast combined do battle in the final of the bottom four section of the under-13s grade under lights at Gladstone.
The majority of players in these two teams had met in the under-11 final in 2011, a match won by Gladstone-East Coast, whose forwards paved the way for victory.
This season had seen the two teams meet three times before their latest battle with Gladstone-East Coast having won twice and Greytown once.
Played on a muddy surface the game was a cracker with Gladstone-East Coast scoring an uncoverted try with one minute to go to level things at 17-17. From the resumption of play, Greytown kicked deep and their No 8 Sam Smith regained possession and scored in the corner to give them a 24-17 win.
The Greytown under-9s came third in their competition after a close 10-9 win over Tuhirangi on Saturday while the under-11s finished fifth, completing their programme with a 42-19 defeat of Marist.
Gladstone JAB had their prizegiving at the complex on Saturday afternoon with their nine teams encompassing more than 120 players. Their under-8 Yellow team lost to Martinborough in the semifinals of their competition but claimed third placing with a 15-10 win over Red Star Grey.
Carterton club are holding their JAB prizegiving this Friday, starting at 6pm, and they are hoping for a big turnout of parents and supporters.
Their under-8s finished their season last Saturday with a win and a loss and did well to end up in the top half of the points table.