Spurned kicks prove costly for East Coast side

East Coast were their own worst enemies in their PGG Wrightson Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match with Masterton Red Star at Memorial Park on Saturday, losing 23-19 in a game which was theirs for the taking.
Twice the Coasters made decisions to take tap kicks from penalties awarded in front of the Masterton Red Star posts rather than take the easy points on offer and they also ''gifted'' their opposition 10 points through costly defensive errors.
The first of them came when a penalty attempt from Masterton Red Star fell short and the ball was allowed to bounce with disastrous consequences. It rebounded off the leg of an East Coast defender and was played in an offside position by a team-mate, therefore giving Masterton Red Star another shot at goal which they turned into three points.
East Coast will also reflect on a Masterton Red Star converted try late in the game which came after a horrible scrum mix-up. At that stage the Coasters had fought back from trailing 16-6 at halftime to hit the lead at 19-16 and the momentum of the game was clearly in their favour. To say they let Masterton Red Star off the hook is an understatement.
The game was a roller-coaster on the scoreboard but spilled ball though basic handling errors and regular penalties meant numerous stoppages and all too often interrupted the flow of the game.
Masterton Red Star had two of the best forwards on the paddock in locks Jake Bubb and Tyrone McTavish, whose ruggedness was always evident whether it be in set piece or broken play. Flanker Jordan Sutherland was his usual busy self in the loose while the pick of a backline were first-five Sele Tugaga and fullback Joe Papaali.
In front rowers Walter Williams and Tereina Rimene East Coast had two diligent workers in the tighter phases of the forward game, Joe Feast was never far from the ball and both Ross Thompson and Ken Scott had powerful second halves. Zeb Apoiro and Sam Mitchell were the standouts in the backs and fullback Nick Olson, who was something of a mixed bag, scored all their points with a try, one conversion and four penalties.
Sele Tugaga and Tyrone McTavish scored tries for Masterton Red Star, Tugaga kicked a dropped goal and Byron Karaitiana landed two penalties and two conversions.
Marist suffered their first defeat of the 2010 season when they were beaten 16-7 by Carterton at the latter's home ground. Charlie Brown and Brock Price scored the Carterton tries and Jono Hurley added two penalties. Matt Gleeson scored a try for Marist and James Goodger kicked a penalty.
Eketahuna ran in six tries in beating Pioneer 39-5 at the Colombo Road grounds. Graeme Creman scored two of the Eketahuna tries with others going to M. Matatini, Pete Tua-Davidson, Jared Shilvock and C. Cribb. The latter also kicked one conversion and one penalty and Creman kicked two conversions. H. Te Whare scored a try for Pioneer.
Martinborough had to work hard for their 12-3 win over a game Puketoi with the points coming from the boot, Greg Wilson for Martinborough and Jason Liverton for Puketoi.
Gladstone and Greytown were always expected to have a close tussle and so it proved, Gladstone getting home 14-7. Kurt Simmonds scored Gladstone's only try and Richard Puddy kicked three penalties. Fraser King scored a try for Greytown and it was converted by Kingi Kaiwai.