The usual long trip out to Pongaroa gave the team time to think about the task at hand, but whether this was too much time to think or there was another reason as the team had one of its slowest starts to a game this season.

Puketoi started the game with the energy and determination that they are well known for and early penalties being traded saw Carterton up 6 points to three. The flow of the game saw Puketoi looking very dangerous at all times particularly with their loose forwards but a back move from Carterton and some quick passing saw Charlie Brown cross wide out and the conversion was successful from Jono Hurley. The game soon closed up though with Puketoi crossing for their first try which was converted making the half time score 13 to 10 to Carterton.

The second half didn't start well for Carterton and Puketoi were soon over for their second converted try and very soon extended the lead with a long range penalty. At 13 to 20 down, memories of the Carterton loss from last year were beginning to re-emerge. Slowly but surely the character of this Carterton team began to surface and a penalty to Tipene Haira began to swing things Carterton's way. Quick hands again were the secret to success and Jono Hurley crossed in the corner which was unconverted and enabled Carterton to regain the lead by one. A further penalty to Tipene Haira extended the lead and Carterton were soon straight back onto attack. From a great positional kick, a rolling maul was set up which ended in Mikey Harmon crashing over with most of the Carterton forwards in behind him and this try again was unconverted to take the score to 29 to 20 in Carterton's favour. On the stroke of full time a break from Carterton's own try line saw the ball passed to Charlie Brown and he carved off sixty metres before a bouncing ball was recovered by Lance Stevenson to be scored under the posts. The conversion was the final act of the game with the score 36 to 20 to Carterton and the bonus point secured for scoring four tries.

Player of the day points were awarded to:

1                     Point to Charlie Brown

2                     Points to Joe Harwood

3                     Points to Mikey Harmon