Carterton became the new holders of the Chris Kapene Cup when they defeated Eketahuna 27-10 in their Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby competition match at Eketahuna on Saturday.
Nobody could quibble about the maroons winning the trophy which goes to the leader at the end of one complete round of matches in the Tui Cup main championship.
Their latest win was their sixth in seven matches and their one loss -- to Marist the previous weekend -- was by just three points.
Despite that impressive formline, however, Carterton would have been pipped at the post by Eketahuna had the latter beaten them in what was a virtual grand final for a prize named after former New Zealand Maori and Wairarapa-Bush prop, the late Chris Kapene. There was just a solitary competition point separating them going into the game so it was all on for young and old.
There was nothing in it come the end of the first 40 minutes either. The two teams were locked together at 10-all and that scoreline was a fair indication of their merits as well.
Carterton grabbed an early 3-0 advantage with a Andy Humberstone penalty only for Eketahuna to hit back and lead 5-3 through a Geoffrey Pound try, scored after first five Dane Hopper had carved through the Carterton defence and created space for his outsides.
Carterton had the next say on the scoreboard when skipper John McFadzean scored after halfback Daryl Pickering worked the short side and McFadzean was left with a clear gallop to the line. Down 8-5, it was now Eketahuna's turn to apply the pressure and, after some strong work from the forwards, prop Wiremu Wolland crashed over for a try. The conversion attempt from wide out missed.
It was remarkable that considering the closeness of the first spell that all the scoring in the second half should be provided by one team, Carterton. They were simply more clinical when scoring opportunities presented themselves.
Pickering made it 15-10 when he sold a dummy and crossed for an easy try and the scoreline advanced to 22-10 in Carterton's favour when flanker Lachie McFadzean scored under the posts after some fine work by his fellow forwards. Humberstone converted and then not long afterwards lock Levi Valovalo who had come off the reserve bench, sealed the victory for Carterton with a try which also gave them the maximum five points from the game.
As has become the norm the McFadzean brothers, Lachie and Johnie, were outstanding for Carterton, Lachie dominating the lineouts, where he made a number of steals, and Johnie forever being first cab off the rank in the many short passing rushes his pack employed. Flanker Morgan Buckingham was also prominent up front with prop Jacko Hull. In the backs, the inside combination of Daryl Pickering and Corey McFadzean functioned well and Andy Humberstone ran strongly in midfield.
Eketahuna's forwards shirked nothing in the physical stuff with Sam Gammie, Mataitini Naimsudroka, Dan Udy, Brendan Lochhead and Kit Mitchell all prominent while Dane Hopper, Chris Terry and Robbie Anderson were the standouts in the backs.