Rugby
Greytown have an opportunity to put both hands on the Moose Kapene Cup for this season, awarded to the leaders after the first round of games, when the penultimate round of games get under way tomorrow.
As the draw would have it, Greytown will have to get past current holders Pioneer. Greytown will be conscious that Carterton gave them a good run for their money last weekend before their pack took control to run out 17-10 winners.
They will have taken that lesson on board and Pioneer will need to be at their determined best up front if they are to deny Greytown sufficient ball to stifle a back line marshalled by Kingi Kaiwai, who can unleash the likes of the Isaacs and Teihana Brown outside him. Greytown are the leading try-scorers in the competition, with 32 touchdowns and, given suitable conditions for running rugby, will want to add to that tally. Pioneer will have to overcome vocal home support but will be encouraged by their 47-point haul over Marist last Saturday which showed they've found their way to the tryline again and have the second-highest individual scorer in their ranks - half back Joseph Thompson with a personal haul of 78 points. Whichever team comes out on top in the forwards looks to have the edge in what appears to be the game of the round.
Eketahuna entertain Bush Sports. Both teams have failed to flatter with their results to date and the home side will be smarting from their narrow loss to Gladstone under lights last time out. On present form, this should be a home win.
Gladstone, third on the table and still with an outside chance of lifting the Kapene Cup, entertain East Coast, a team with the same number of points (19). Gladstone had to come from behind to defeat Eketahuna last week in what was described as a "hard" game but with winger Cameron Hayton still in fine scoring form they possess a real match winner. Hayton is joint top try-scorer (eight) and top individual points scorer (94) and given the right ground conditions will prove a handful if fed sufficient ball. The Coast pack, which includes the likes of flankers Ben Holmes and captain Joe Feast, will do well to deny the home side the possession the free-scoring Hayton thrives on.
At Memorial Park, Marist will need to bring their A game if they are to dent Martinborough's ambitions of overtaking Greytown at the top of the ladder. Marist come to the game on the wrong end of a 47-11 thumping by Pioneer and have just the one victory to date while Martinborough are on a roll with their forward pack in commanding form and with first-five Tipi Haira, among others, turning possession into points. Haira has a tally of 60 points so far and won't need any invitation to add to that if the opportunity presents. It would be a surprise if Martinborough were to come away with other than the maximum haul from this game.
Carterton have the bye after the withdrawal of Puketoi from senior competition this season. Puketoi have struggled to field a side in previous rounds and will not be taking part in Tui Cup games after this first round. Premier games kick off at 2.30pm.
Senior reserve games kick off at 1pm and follow the same course as their premier counterparts in the main although Marist entertain Masterton Red Star, leaders Tuhirangi host Carterton while Martinborough have the bye. The game of the round looks to be third-placed Greytown hosting second-placed Pioneer.