Greytown sure of home semi

Rugby

Greytown are guaranteed to be top seeds going into the semifinals of the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's Tui Cup competition.

The defending champions were scheduled to play Martinborough in the last round of preliminary round on Saturday, but the latter have already defaulted due to an injury crisis and the four points for the win will take Greytown to 35 points.

This means Greytown will be the venue of one semi on July 27. Who will host the other will depend on the result of this weekend's Eketahuna v East Coast match at Eketahuna.

A win to Eketahuna would move them into second place on 32, one point point ahead of Pioneer, who cannot improve their position as they have drawn the bye.

That scenario would see Greytown at home to East Coast and Eketahuna at home to Pioneer in the semis.

However, should East Coast beat Eketahuna and secure a bonus point for scoring four or more tries, they will join Eketahuna on 28 and take the third seeding going into the semis on countback. If that happens, the semifinal draw will be Greytown v Eketahuna at Greytown and Pioneer v East Coast, probably at the Jeans St grounds in Masterton.

Premier division points are: Greytown 31, Pioneer 31, Eketahuna 28, East Coast 23, Gladstone 12, Carterton 11, Bush Sports 10, Marist 6 and Martinborough 6.

Meanwhile, Masterton Red Star are making the pace in the "top six" section of the senior reserves competition. They have 15 points, ahead of Tuhirangi 14, Greytown 13, Martinborough 11, Marist 6 and Pioneer 2.

The senior reserves "bottom five" section has East Coast in front with 14, followed by Eketahuna 10, Carterton 9, Gladstone 6 and Bush Sports 0.