Match Report: Carterton vs Marist

By Andrew Dunford

Carterton 22 (Isireli Biumaiwai 2, Fiula Tameilau tries; Tameilau 2 conversions, penalty goal) Marist 24.

Carterton and Marist staged a replay of the 2022 Moose Kapene final at Memorial Park, the prize this time being third place in the Lane Penn Cup. The Maroon lineup was a little experimental this week, with three players on premier debut for the club, two more playing for just the second time and only ten of last year’s grand final 22 involved.

Marist opened the scoring with a converted try after five minutes when a Carterton defensive lineout went wrong, but Carterton immediately hit back with Isireli Biumaiwai diving over from a quick tap penalty to level the scores after nine minutes. From the kickoff a Marist player tackled Logan Wakefield in the air and was red-carded, leaving them to play with 14 for nearly 70 minutes.

The teams traded penalty goals for 10-10 after 27 minutes, then Carterton took a 15-10 lead on half time when an Inia Katia run set up Biumaiwai to gallop 35 metres and score in the corner. The margin was extended to 22-10 shortly early in the second half when Ben Alvis regained possession and sent Fiula Tameilau on a long diagonal run to the line.

Carterton struggled to make an impact in the second half, with a number of players looking a bit short of gas. Marist scored two converted tries to take the lead and held on to win, although there were still two good opportunities for Carterton when a kickable penalty was turned down, and then Ben Alvis was almost put in the clear after a huge Logan Wakefield run. Marist was also highly fortunate to not lose another player when a clear shoulder charge to the head of Hone Vella went unpunished.

Logan Wakefield had another big game with ball in hand and at the tackle, and Inia Katia was elusive on attack. Second half substitute Tupou Lea’aemanu made many telling hit-ups, Mike Kloeg marked his return from injury by shoring up a creaking lineout in the second half with seven clean takes, and Isireli Biumaiwai was devastating with ball in hand in the first half. In the backs, Fiula Tameilau put in a courageous performance at centre, helping create one try and score another despite carrying a leg injury, and also goal-kicking soundly. New fullback Ben Alvis - who had arrived from the UK only two days prior and not trained with the team – made a number of crucial tackles at the back.

Next week Carterton returns to Belvedere Road to start the Moose Kapene Cup against Eketahuna.