Match Report: Carterton v Greytown

by Andrew Dunford

Playing for the Ischia Hikitia Grant Memorial Trophy – known as the Grant Cup.

Carterton 59 (Siutaka Toamotu (3), Inia Katia (2), Aseri Waqa (2), Zach Wakefield, Ben Brooking tries; Brooking 7 conversions) Greytown 10.

New year. New season. New coach.  New-look team.

Last year’s impressive grand final win counts for nothing when the whistle blows to start a new season, especially with at least ten players not returning from 2022.

The much-anticipated kick-off of the 2023 season finally arrived in the shape of a Lane Penn Cup first-round fixture against our oldest foe Greytown. Neither coach could have known how his team was going to perform given pre-season games were scratchy and few.

The Lane Penn Cup has been rearranged into North and South groups this year with a dedicated finals day at Memorial Park on 6 May, which should help in shaking off its tag as a pre-season competition. 

Saturday’s game saw returning captain Daryl Pickering lead his men out of the tunnel in their new jerseys, game faces on and ready for the “Battle of the Bridge”.

The Maroons started the game as they meant to go on.  Try after try showed this team means business – move it out wide guys and the backs will do what they are supposed to do: get the ball over the white line. By half-time a healthy 38-3 lead was established on the back of six tries, with a further three following in the second half.

Six of the nine tries were scored by backs with Siutaka Toamotu dotting down three times showing the flair we first came to know in 2022. Last year’s leading try-scorer Aseri Waqa once again demonstrated his huge presence at fullback in scoring two tries of his own, while new recruit Ben Brooking lived up to his advance billing, touching down once and kicking seven conversions from nine attempts.

Inia Katia may have been reinvented for 2023 - stuck back together with strapping tape and moved to the side of the scrum – but he remains the same hundred-mile-an-hour player and was rewarded with two tries. Zach Wakefield used every bit of his power and frame to get the ball across for his try.

This game entertained the home crowd and gave them hope for a great season. It gave the players confidence and the chance to get one under the belt. And it also provided the new coaching team of Garth Thompson and assistant Errol Weston with plenty to work on – especially discipline.  We had two in the bin at one stage (scoring a try whilst they were there).

All in all, a great first day at the office for the team. Next week’s away match at Martinborough is already shaping up as a virtual Lane Penn Cup semi-final.

The curtain-raiser for the Max Wilson Cup was won 44-17 by Greytown’s premier reserves.

We’d like to pay our condolences to the Grant whānau as we acknowledge the death of another of their tōtara Charlie Grant who died during the game at his home.

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3-2-1

1 point: Logan Wakefield

2 points: Siutaka Toamotu

3 points: Ben Brooking

Supporters’ Vote: Tupou Lea’aemanu