Backs need to cut loose

ATTACK: It will be important that Glen Walters calls the shots accurately in a tactical sense tomorrow. PHOTO/FILE

Trust House Wairarapa-Bush can expect a stern challenge from Horowhenua-Kapiti in their Heartland championship rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton, tomorrow.

The Levin-based side has started their 2013 Heartland campaign promisingly with narrow losses to defending champions East Coast (24-25) and current pacesetters Mid-Canterbury (9-13) followed by a thrilling 19-18 win over a King Country side which had previously claimed the scalps of perennial "big guns" Wanganui and North Otago.

Certainly, they are a much improved side from that beaten by Wairarapa-Bush 34-19 in a non-championship game played at Levin a few weeks back. Even then, however, they were much more competitive than the final scoreline suggested with Wairarapa-Bush tending to dine out on their mistakes rather than having a major advantage in any of the ball-winning departments. And, what's more, Horowhenua-Kapiti didn't have national sevens star Alfred Pelenise and former Wairarapa-Bush utility back Junior Togia in their backline then but they will be there tomorrow.

While it is still too early in the Heartland season to label this match as a possible defining moment in Wairarapa-Bush's bid to repeat last season's effort of qualifying for the Meads Cup semis, there is no doubt a loss will have them on the back foot in that regard, simply because of the closeness of the points table. Right now there are just eight points between first and 11th in the 12-team competition so a defeat for Wairarapa-Bush would probably see them drop from third to mid-table, at best.

The key to a Wairarapa-Bush victory here seems likely to revolve around the ability of their forwards to achieve a level of dominance up front. The less opportunity they have to cut loose, the better for the home side.

If ever there was a game where Wairarapa-Bush wanted their tight five to stand up and be counted, this would be it. It is encouraging that all three front rowers in the starting XV, Jonathan Fuimaono, Richard Puddy and Finnbarr Kerr-Newell, relish the physical stuff and that locks Clark Butcher and Lachie McFadzean have the height and agility to make an impact at lineout time. Fuimaono and Kerr-Newell are also two of their team's most damaging runners with ball in hand and it would make sense to utilise their skills in that area on a regular basis as well.

An impressive effort off the bench during the 29-23 loss to Mid-Canterbury in Ashburton last weekend sees Sam Marshall-Wilson promoted to the starting line-up on the blindside flank. He has always looked to have the potential to make the grade at a higher level and, now the in-form James Goodger is sidelined for the remainder of the season through injury, he has the chance to stake a claim for a permanent place in the Heartland side. Marshall-Wilson is not unlike Goodger in that he is mobile about the paddock and a more-than-handy lineout option and he should slot in well alongside fellow loosies Johan van Vliet and Nathan Iro.

It will be important to the Wairarapa-Bush cause too that their inside backs, Inia Katia, Glen Walters and Byron Karaitiana, call the shots accurately in a tactical sense. Horowhenua-Kapiti are the sort of side who will dine out on kicks which go to hand rather than land and on any spilled ball from basic handling or passing mistakes.

The quality of effort from this trio will also obviously dictate just how much impact the three-quarter line of Titapu Pairama-Lewington, Cameron Hayton and Paul Tikomainavalu and fullback Nick Olson have on attack. They have been quiet attacking-wise on this campaign, more because of a lack of opportunity than anything else, and it would be a nice change to see them more gainfully employed on this occasion.

All told four inter-provincial matches will be played at Memorial Park tomorrow; the Heartland match being preceded by an RDO competition match between the Wairarapa-Bush Bs and their Wanganui counterparts, an under-18s fixture between Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington Samoans and an under-14s game between Wairarapa-Bush and Manawatu.

The full draw is:

Heartland championship: Wairarapa-Bush v Horowhenua-Kapiti, Memorial Park No1 at 2.30pm (L.Scanlon , Canterbury; assistant refs, C.Jefferies and S.Andrew; subs, A.Stringer and P.Thompson; ref aide, L.Price; sideline manager, G.Reisima).

RDO Competition: Wairarapa-Bush Bs v Wanganui, Memorial Park No 1 at 12.30pm (R.Gordon, Wellington; assistant refs, A.Stringer and P.Baucke; subs, G.Reisima).

Under-18s: Wairarapa-Bush v Wellington Samoans, Memorial Park No 2 at 1pm (P.Thompson).

Under-14s: Wairarapa-Bush v Manawatu, Memorial Park No 3 at 1pm (L.Price).