Marton finished 2017 with all the Senior Championship prizes after their comfortable win over Hunterville in the final on Saturday.
Marton finished 2017 with all the Senior Championship prizes after their comfortable win over Hunterville in the final on Saturday.
While the Premier final may have ended with an upset, undefeated Speirs Food Marton were in no mood to surrender their perfect season at the last hurdle, as they produced a clinical 30-0 shut out of Kelso Hunterville in Senior Championship game.
The heavy favourites opened their account at CooksGardens through unerring goal-kicking winger Valentino Lealofi in the seventh minute, while Hunterville first-five Leigham Harding was away with his early chance.
Marton's dominant loose forwards cooked up their first try as flanker Glenn Westenberg fed No8 Hamish Greer and got it back from him in a nifty passing exchange, before fellow flanker and player of the day Steven Kerehana burrowed over from the tryline ruck.
Trapping Hunterville in their own territory without releasing, Marton got another penalty chance for Lealofi to have them comfortable at 13-0 after 23 minutes.
Prop Isaac Greer then powered into a gap and drew the attention of two defenders before popping the ball up to fullback Francis Seigafo to dash off under the posts.
Hunterville tried cross kicks to no avail approaching halftime.
Marton kept it up at the start of the second stanza as they camped in Hunterville's territory for Lealofi to add a third penalty, and then after sustained buildup, halfback Josh Hurn spied a half gap to set up No8 Hamish Greer going over to score.
Marton fullback Francis Seigafo heading for the try line.
A proud team, Hunterville never quit trying as they besieged Marton's line in the last ten minutes, with the forwards being driven over the line and reserve winger Patrick Henderson getting free to put down a grubber kick in-goal, but Marton snuffed out both chances.
Aside from Karehana, Marton's other standouts were their always offloading lock Salu Peneli and imposing centre John Kilisi - who broke Hunterville down for scrap with some awesome tackles.
Marton centre John Kilisi had a strong match on attack and defence.
Beaten in last year's playoff by Premier-bound Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri, the 'Stingers' victory was their first ever Senior club championship, and well received by their travelling supporters who chanted their name throughout the final minute.
Soaked with water bottles by his players, coach Dennis Tucker was pleased the side had maintained their standards despite the heightened atmosphere.
"All week, we just kept it like another game. We knew Hunterville and what they were going to do.
"The boy's discipline [was there], although the penalty count doesn't show it."
Having left Premier in 2015 and reverted to being a one-team club, Tucker reiterated the undefeated season showed they were ready to come back up.
"That's been our goal, we gave ourselves three years and this is the third year.
"If we can get a few of our boys back, we'll hopefully get up with the big boys."
Image 1 of 21: Wanganui Rugby: Premier Consolation Kaieru vs Taihape at Spriggens Park. Kaierau No. 12 Ethan Robinson heading for the try line. Saturday, July 29, 2017 Wanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
