They had 10 per cent of the territory, maybe 20 per cent of the ball, and 100 per cent of the scoreboard.
Playing with a passion they are not traditionally known for, Marton put in a mammoth 80-minute defensive effort to snatch the Rangitikei sub-union derby on their home pitch against Ratana on Saturday.
From their small forward pack flying up time and again for the tackle, to the larger midfielders snuffling out Ratana's more promising breaks, Marton's first-half penalties and an extraordinary freak seven-pointer by fullback Moli Sagapolutere started by a grubber kick behind their own tryline proved enough for a famous 13-0 win that has been 15 years in the making.
For their part, Ratana could only leave the field shaking their heads that wave after wave of phases in Marton's 30m zone, including over 30 minutes of the second half, were undone by dropped ball, forward passes and a blunt refusal to consider the three-point options after a mountain of penalties from desperate infringements.
Even when Marton reserve forward Tim Hale was the one chosen for the yellow card by referee Peter Clarke after repeated team warnings with 15 minutes to play, Ratana could still not find a way through spilling the ball in double team tackles or being bundled out over the sideline.
Delighted Marton coach Cornel Mason was proud his minnows had made rare back-to-back victories and will even set the goal of a hat-trick when they host Pirates this coming Saturday.
"I put it back to our defence.
"You've got to be courageous on the line, especially against a big pack like Ratana."
It had been an "emotional day" for Mason, as a long-time Ratana stalwart, to be coaching against "my whanau", and his opposite Wilson Walker knew what he had brought to that team.
"They played with a passion I haven't seen in a while.
"I think it is [Mason's influence] and some of the new guys they've brought in. They played well."
After such a frustrating match, Walker was pleased his side had played with the structure to dominate all facets from territory to possession, but they just could not convert those opportunities.
"If you don't, then you end up on the wrong side of the ledger."
The decision not to take the penalty kicks had been made by the on-field leadership and would be discussed that evening, Walker said.
"Maybe if we'd got the first one and it was 3-3 it would have been different. We'll look at it in the future."
Marton second-five Taukiri Manawatu, who has added much this season with his playmaking options, opened the scoring with a penalty before the story of the match set in. With quick hands from halfback Terokena Matthews and clever prop Isaac Fonotoe, Ratana opened up several golden chances.
But Manawatu, Sagapolutere and big centre Lote Aloa chopped their men down, while lock Jarrod Wotler and flanker Chris Rayner were outstanding against Ratana's big ball-runners.
What turned out to be the telling blow of the match came when Ratana was disallowed a try after Matthews blindside dart to send winger Kane Tamou crashing over in the clubroom's corner was pulled back for a forward pass.
From the scrum, Manawatu was trapped by chasers and inexplicably put down a grubber kick.
Running through, Aloa pounced behind the shocked Ratana defensive line and fed Sagapolutere, who kicked out of a diving tackle to sprint 70m and score what had to be the try of the round.
Aloa converted and from there the play returned to script as Ratana continually battered Marton's line but couldn't buy a five-pointer.
So often, prop Vaan Rauhina, flanker Alex Forsyth or centre Western Hemi looked like they would find a way through but the fumbles were proving costly and ultimately fatal.
A rare Marton break out from winger Ihaia Tai's chip kick trapped Ratana and earned Aloa a second chance in front of the posts nearing halftime.
It continued through a draining second stanza as Ratana camped inside Marton's half and continued to throw themselves at the line, choosing taps and free kicks for lineouts over gift penalty opportunities.
Marton 13 (Moli Sagapolutere try, Lote Aloa pen, con, Tauriki Manawatu pen) beat Harvey Round Motors Ratana 0. HT:13-0.