Rugby
Eketahuna and Greytown have made interesting selections leading into their Tui Cup premier division final rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.
The main talking point in the Eketahuna starting line-up is the decision to play usual loose forward Richard Thurston at centre while Greytown have opted to have Wairarapa-Bush first-five Glen Walters at fullback and start with the experienced Kingi Kaiwai in the No 10 jersey.
Eketahuna coach Wayne Roache has no qualms about Thurston's ability to make an impact in midfield.
"He's had a couple of goes there now and done a good job, he runs hard and tackles hard, I don't see it being any problem at all."
It is in the tackling area Thurston could have a busy day as Greytown have two powerful runners in skipper Tapaga Isaac and Teihana Brown in midfield and most of their backline attacks, especially from set play, will probably revolve around them.
Keeping them under wraps will a must for Thurston and his midfield partner, Chris Terry, who is also a robust defender.
Walters was a revelation at first-five for Wairarapa-Bush in Heartland championship matches last season, not only for his play-making skills but also for the accuracy of his kicking, tactically and for goal. Playing at fullback for Greytown is, however, nothing new for Walters and coach Tony Lyford is convinced his side will be well served by having Kaiwai calling the shots in the competition decider.
"Kingi's been around awhile, the pressure of a big game won't worry him," Lyford said.
The unluckiest player in the Greytown squad must be talented utility forward Regan Pope, who will be on the reserves bench simply because of the embarrassment of riches his team has in the middle row and loose forward departments.
This allows Nathan Iro, who has made a name for himself as a block-busting No 8, to partner Norm Henricksen at lock and for another punishing runner in Tana Isaac to start in the back row.
Eketahuna's loose forward stocks are also impressive. Captain Joss Tua-Davidson and Johan van Vliet are two of the best flankers around and No 8 Rupeni Tamani was the star of the semifinal win over Pioneer last weekend. And in the reserves is Luke Mahoney, a consistently strong performer for Eketahuna over many years.
Saturday's final will also be a family affair, with three Isaacs and two Browns part of the Greytown squad and three Lochheads in the Eketahuna team.
The starting line-ups for Saturday are:
EKETAHUNA: Dylan Bennett; Brad Harriman, Richard Thurston, Chris Terry, Anthony Eagle; Tom Meuli; Clint Eagle; Rupeni Tamani; Johan van Vliet, Bo McShane, Dan Griffin, Joss Tua-Davidson; Brendan Walker, Zac Wilkie, Adrian Lochhead. Reserves: Luke Biddle, Jordan Lochhead, Brendan Lochhead, Daniel Udy, Luke Mahoney, Dane Hopa, Jacques Reinhart.
GREYTOWN: Glen Walters; Tavita Isaac, Teihana Brown, Tapaga Isaac, Hamish Meyrick or Taylor Fenwick; Kingi Kaiwai; Joseph Sio; Tana Isaac; Kahn Fruean-Walker, Nathan Iro, Norm Henricksen, Rihi Brown; Daniel Gilmore, PJ Freeman, Brett Rudman. Reserves: Jaden Carter, Heta Phillips, Matt Gain, Regan Pope, Reece Lett, Meyrick or Fenwick.