Top-of-the-table action

Solid contact: YMP prop Hayze Nepia gets tackled by Waikohu rake Geoff Pari with support from player/coach Kelvin Smith in week four of round one. Waikohu won the match 21-17 and showed the level of skill and physicality that both teams will bring. They will meet again tomorrow at Te Karaka Domain and kick off to be at 2.45pm. Picture by Paul Rickard

Waikohu have played eight games and won eight games as they head into a back-to-back top-of-the-table clash against YMP tomorrow at Te Karaka Domain.

Enterprise Cars OBM play against Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates on field two of the Oval as Larsawn Ngatapa will be host to High School Old Boys at St. Paddy's park in Patutahi and all games will kick off at 2.45pm.

As both GT Shearing Waikohu and East Coast Vets YMP come off the back of wins, they will both want to share some momentum heading into the ninth round of the Civil Project Solutions premier club rugby competition.

GT Shearing Waikohu have already had a bout against a second-placed OBM; they have another after YMP scored a bonus-point try last Saturday that edges the black-and-whites one point ahead and claiming second place.

YMP coach Kahu Tamatea said that his team needed to prepare for the big forward battle. ”We are just trying to work on what we will be bringing to the battle and then all the X-factor that both back lines bring.” Tamatea said.

“We are using these last two round-robin games to nail the combinations and to strengthen them.”

YMP captain Shayde Skudder also knows that the game will be battled in the forwards.

“We are preparing for a battle up-front. They have a solid forward pack so we are just going to try and tune up our set-piece.”

Skudder said that he knows that it is going to be electric. “The boys are excited. We are looking forward to matching against the best this far.” Skudder said.

Waikohu continue to take command and are looking to continue their winning formula.

Waikohu player/coach Kelvin Smith said that every week is a new team and also a new style. “Nothing changes for us. We won't change or add much, we will just keep doing what we are doing.” Smith said.

“Momentum is looking good for them coming into this game and we know what they bring from 1-15, so we will have to try to match them physically.”

The physicality that each team brings will see some strong hard hits as well as some skilled ball handling and ruck/maul skills.

While the defending champs will have home-field advantage, YMP will bring everything they have in the tank to overcome and become the only team thus-far, to conquer the undefeated.

Waikohu captain Toru Noanoa has been leading the charge up-front, making huge hit-ups and taking control of the flow of the game. Containing him will be an effort but YMP also have a dangerous back-line.

YMP full back Andrew Tauatevalu showed speed and accuracy last week and shows that you can't give open space or he will take it and make you pay for it.