Greytown desperate for competition points

Greytown will be desperate for points in their Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby championship preliminary round match with East Coast at Greytown tomorrow.
As the only one of the nine participating teams not to earn points from the opening series of games last weekend Greytown will want to get themselves off the bottom of the competition table so as not to make themselves the early favourites for the dubious honour of being the only side to miss the quarter-finals a little further down the track.
Greytown and East Coast have had some battle royals over recent times and tomorrow's encounter should be no different.
The Coasters have certainly played the better rugby of the two teams so far this season but they will be wary of a Greytown side which has enough bulk and height up front and enough pace in the backs to give them plenty to think about.
Disconcerting for Greytown though was the injury suffered by skipper Norm Henricksen which saw him leave the field early in the second half against Gladstone last weekend. The lanky lock is an inspirational figure at lineout time and general play and it will be a big blow to Greytown's chances if he is sidelined tomorrow.
East Coast also have a grand leader in hooker Dion Mitchell who must be pressing hard for inclusion in the Wairarapa-Bush squad , as must lively flanker Joe Feast and hard running midfield back Te Maika Mason. All three should see this game as a fine opportunity to push their claims in that respect.
Puketoi and Martinborough will meet at Pongaroa in a game which will probably see the two teams adopting very different tactics. Whereas Puketoi will look to dominate the forward exchanges and use the boot of first-five Jason Liverton to keep them on the front foot Martinborough will be aiming to open the game up so that the pace of their loosies and outside backs like Greg Wilson can get them home. A close finish seems guaranteed.
Carterton have been the form team of the senior first division series over the past month or so and they will be expected to continue on their winning way when they play Eketahuna at Eketahuna.
Unfortunately it seems the knee injury suffered by Eketahuna lock Dean Griffin the last time these two teams met will keep him out of action for several more weeks and his absence should mean that Carterton's Tomasi Kedrabuka will have things pretty much his own way at lineout time.
Eketahuna will make their presence felt in the loose though as not only do they have Wairarapa-Bush reps Sully Alsop and Steve Olds there but in Daniel Udy they have one of the "finds" of the club season.
Look too for Eketahuna to make their presence felt in midfield where Jon Guillard and Chris Terry have been coming along well of late but Carterton should have edge in the inside backs through Justin Lett and Jono Hurley whose organisation skills are improving by the week. Hurley has to be the most accurate goal kicker in the competition too, as evidenced by the six penalties and one conversion he landed in the win over Pioneer last weekend
Gladstone are celebrating their old timer's day and this should draw a large crowd to their clash with Pioneer whose supporters invariably give them support in big numbers as well.
On paper Gladstone, already the winners of the Kapene Cup this season, should have the edge but they are still battling injury problems and will be up against a Pioneer side which probably has more exciting young talent than any of the other first division sides, names like Namana, Henare, Wilson, Ewe, Te Whare and Peacock springing easily to mind.
The big question mark for Pioneer revolves around the ability of their tight forwards to measure up to a Gladstone engine room sure to be spearheaded by rugged front rowers Kurt Simmonds and Richard Puddy and the defensive capabilities of their backs when the likes of James Bruce, Dean Grant, Mike Shaw and Jordan Watene start running at them.
On an individual basis it will be interesting to view the confrontation between Grant and Hoani Peacock, two first-fives who have immense promise and who both must be on the radar for the Wairarapa-Bush Heartland championship squad.
Having said that, however, the one standout feature local rugby this season has been the number of first-fives who have been starring on the club scene & Grant . Peacock, Hurley, Rimene and Liverton being five who have all looked possible representative material. Not bad for a union which in recent times has struggled to find more than a couple of handy performers in that pivotal role.