Match axing irks Rutene

Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Mark Rutene is "very frustrated" his Heartland championship squad's warm-up match with Horowhenua-Kapiti this Saturday has been cancelled.
The game was to be played at Masterton's Memorial Park but had to be called off after Horowhenua-Kapiti realised they had double-booked the date, having previously organised a fixture with King Country.
The cancellation means Wairarapa-Bush will have just the one friendly against Poverty Bay in Gisborne on August 2 before they kick off their championship campaign seven days later when they play Thames Valley in Masterton
"It is very frustrating. It certainly means we are going to be a bit underdone," Rutene said yesterday, adding that desperate efforts had been made to find another suitable opponent for this weekend but these had been unsuccessful.
Instead Wairarapa-Bush will hold an extended training session with the senior B squad providing live opposition for part of the action.
That Rutene and his assistant coach Steve Thompson will now look to field their strongest possible side against Poverty Bay is practically guaranteed as it will be their first and last chance to build combinations under actual game conditions before they take on Thames Valley.
Just who they select in the vital roles of halfback and first-five is likely to create the mostinterest.
News that Gladstone's Inia Katia is challenging talented East Coast youngster Matt O'Connor for the halfback spot will be welcomed by local fans.
Katia was a surprise omission from the initial Heartland squad but there are two good reasons behind his promotion: firstly the splendid form he has shown at club level in recent weeks and, secondly, the fact that Zeb Aporo could well find himself as the number one first-five.
Original intentions probably were for Aporo - also from East Coast - to play in his preferred position of halfback and to have a Wellington-based import in the No10 jersey and that could still be the case as the 2011 season progresses.
However, the import situation has been complicated by the player expected to be at first-five being wanted by the Wellington selectors and so Rutene has been forced to cast the net further afield.
He does have another possibility in mind but has yet to confirm his availability so Aporo must now be a good bet to fill the role, at least against Poverty Bay and probably Thames Valley.
It is worth noting too, however, that another of the region's young guns in Pioneer's Tipene Haira has been brought into the Heartland training squad as possible cover for Aporo at first-fiveand there is the prospect of him travelling to Gisborne and perhaps even getting on the paddock at some point.
The prospect of Katia and Haira teaming up would certainly have the blood racing as they are of the same mould, being instinctive players never afraid to chance their arm, even in tight defensive situations.
Up front the good news for Wairarapa-Bush is that Eketahuna lock Daniel Griffin has recovered from a knee injury and will boost the team's depth at lineout time and that Bush Sports hooker Jake Tipene has agreed to come on board under the "loan player" regulations.