Match Report: Carterton vs Pioneer

By Andrew Dunford

Carterton 77 (Malakai Biumaiwai, Fiula Tameilau, Logan Wakefield, Aseri Waqa 3, Inia Katia 3, Siutaka Toamotu, Ben Alvis tries; Ben Brooking 11 conversions) Pioneer 5.

Carterton travelled to Jeans Street on a grey day to face a resurgent Pioneer team who were below their recent strength owing to player eligibility issues.

The visitors were quickly into their work with Tupou Lea’aemanu prominent in the early stages and got on the board first when Malakai Biumaiwai stormed over from close range. Fiula Tameilau’s 20-metre solo run to the line followed shortly after and Carterton led 14-0 after just nine minutes.

Pioneer enjoyed its best period of the match over the 20 next minutes and scored a try after Carterton’s back three failed to field a high kick, but the Maroons finished the half in emphatic fashion scoring three more tries: Logan Wakefield drove over from close range, a good passing move sent Aseri Waqa clear and then Inia Katia picked up a loose ball and sprinted 30 metres for the fifth try. Ben Brooking’s immaculate kicking display extended Carterton’s lead to 35-5 at half time.

The second half started in similar fashion when a rare Zac Wakefield grubber kick was dived on by Inia Katia, who then scored his third try in a row from a Daryl Pickering pass on the blindside: 49-5 after 49 minutes.

Aseri Waqa intercepted and scored after 56 minutes, then a rampaging Tupou Lea’aemanu run resulted in Siutaka Toamotu scoring in the corner to raise 63-5 on 61 minutes. The tries continued when a Brandon Wright break down the left wing set up Aseri Waqa for his hat trick, then the scoring was rounded off by Ben Alvis who regathered his own clever grubber kick to dot down an eleventh try after 72 minutes. Ben Brooking completed off a perfect day by landing every conversion attempt, several from wide out.

On a day of many highlights, Tupou Lea’aemanu made five big runs, Malakai Biumaiwai was strong with ball in hand in the first half, Logan Wakefield excelled in every department and Inia Katia’s eye for a gap brought him a superb hat trick. Ben Brooking distributed well and executed a perfect goal-kicking performance, Fiula Tameilau ran and tackled strongly, and Aseri Waqa was simply too quick and elusive when given space.