Rugby
Round 7 of this season's Moose Kapene Cup gets under way tonight with a couple of interesting fixtures in store for rugby fans.
First up, Eketahuna entertain Gladstone under lights tonight, kick-off 7pm. Both sides come to the fixture on the back of victories last weekend and will want to maintain that momentum. Gladstone lie in third spot on the table on 20 points while the home side are only two points behind.
Weather conditions may play a hand in the final result but the workmanlike Eketahuna side gave a good account of themselves on a heavy pitch in their last home game against Greytown. They will, however, need to keep free-scoring Gladstone winger Cameron Hayton under wraps. Hayton has already topped the ton mark in points scored this season with 10 tries, 17 conversions and eight penalties.
Like Gladstone, runaway leaders Greytown are also on the road for the second weekend in succession on Saturday, this time travelling up State Highway 2 as far as Carterton. The home side will want to make amends for not securing the points against Marist last Saturday and with home support urging them on will give Greytown a run for their money.
The Carterton pack has often laid the foundation for victory but will have to be at their cohesive best to stop a rampant Greytown from securing enough possession to make off with the points. Greytown have their tails up, play as a unit and back each other, one of the strengths which has seen them dominate the season and a factor which has seen them record 29 tries to date.
In-form Martinborough travel to Pahiatua to tackle Bush Sports. Martinborough come off the back of an impressive 25-15 away victory over Pioneer last weekend to lie in second place and maintain pressure on leaders Greytown. The win was based around an impressive forward effort which saw them hold their own in the tight while dominating in the loose, capped by the boot of Tipi Haira who has registered 76 points.
With three rounds of games remaining in the first round, Martinborough are conscious the Moose Kapene Cup can still be wrestled from Greytown's potential grasp but can do no more than keep on winning their fixtures and taking the maximum points in the process. It is hard to see Bush Sports overhauling their visitors based on current form.
Pioneer will want to put the memory of last weekend's defeat well and truly behind them when they take on Marist at Jeans Street. Pioneer lacked a backline general in the absence of Hoani Peacock last Saturday - someone who could take advantage of the conditions to turn the opposition around and make them defend from inside their own territory. Given anything like the same conditions this weekend, it's something they'll want to take on board against a Marist side buoyed by their second victory of the season at Carterton's expense.
In the remaining fixture, Puketoi travel to Whareama to take on an East Coast side recovering from their 37-12 defeat at the hands of Greytown last weekend. East Coast remain in the mix with an outside chance of lifting the Kapene Cup and it would be a real upset if they were to come away with anything other than the maximum points against their winless visitors.
Reserve games kick off at 1pm and follow much the same pattern as premier games although East Coast entertain Tuhirangi at Whareama, Martinborough v Bush Sports is being played in Martinborough while Eketahuna have the bye. The game of the round will be played out at Jeans St where third-place Pioneer host table-toppers Marist.