Defending champions Gladstone will be desperate to end Pioneer's unbeaten streak when they meet in a Tui Cup premier division rugby match at Gladstone tomorrow.
Their upset 13-17 loss to Greytown when the championship round got under way last week put Gladstone behind the eight ball in their bid to clinch a semifinal berth and while another defeat by Pioneer wouldn't exactly be the death knell for them, it would clearly make that possibility less likely.
Pioneer have been the form team all season and certainly deserve to start warm favourites again. The news that hugely influential loose forward Nathan Rolls has been suspended for six weeks by the WBRFU judiciary for allegedly kicking a Bush Sports player last weekend is a big blow for them.
Rolls can take a game by the scruff of the neck with his drive and enthusiasm and how Pioneer cope without him will be interesting, to say the least.
Bush Sports will also be missing one of their stars when they take on Carterton at Pahiatua. Lock Sam Marshall-Wilson joined Rolls in appearing before the WBRFU judiciary this week for allegedly striking a Pioneer player and was suspended for five weeks.
Marshall-Wilson has not only been his team's main ball winner at lineout time but one of their hardest workers in general play and Carterton, last year's Tui Cup beaten finalists, will undoubtedly benefit from his absence.
A Bush Sports victory is still on the cards but Carterton are not without a chance, even allowing for their hefty 33-14 loss at the hands of East Coast last weekend.
East Coast hosts Martinborough at Whareama tomorrow and both are coming off the back of big wins seven days previous, Martinborough having dismissed Eketahuna 36-8. This should be a cracker of a game with Martinborough more intent on keeping the ball close to their forwards and East Coast keen to exploit the pace and flair of their backs. It could go either way.
Eketahuna will be hoping home advantage gives them the edge when they square off with a Greytown side which has been making excellent progress under the astute direction of coach Ritchie Robertson. This, too, could be a game of contrasting styles with Eketahuna focusing on forward domination and Greytown wanting to free up their backs on a regular basis. On recent form Greytown should win but it would be tempting fate to count Eketahuna out.
Highlight of the Shannahan Cup senior seconds division will be the match between Tuhirangi and Rams at Memorial Park. Tuhirangi have been in grand form all season but this will be their toughest assignment to date.
The draw for tomorrow is:-
Tui Cup premier division: Bush Sports v Carterton, Pahiatua at 2.30pm (S. Andrew; P. Weeks and home team); East Coast v Martinborough, Whareama at 2.30pm (C. Jefferies); Eketahuna v Greytown, Eketahuna at 2.30pm (S. O'Gorman; G. Reisima and home team); Gladstone v Pioneer, Gladstone at 2.30pm (T. Roseingrave; D. Whitcombe and home team).
Shannahan Cup senior seconds: Puketoi v Pioneer, Pongaroa at 2.30pm (W. Jeffries); Rams v Tuhirangi, Memorial Park No 1 at 2.30pm (G. Moorcock; P.Thompson and K. Lochhead); Marist v Martinborough, Memorial Park No 2 at 2.30pm (G. Hall; V. Peterson and G. McKeown).
Ryan Cup senior thirds: Bush Sports v Greytown, Pahiatua at 1pm (P. Weeks); Rams v Eketahuna, Memorial Park No 1 at 1pm (P. Thompson); Gladmarist v Carterton, Memorial Park No 2 at 1pm (V. Peterson); East Coast a bye.
Manawatu colts: Eketahuna v Massey Agriculture, Eketahuna at 1pm (G. Reisima).
Secondary schools - Premier first XV: Rathkeale firsts v Feilding High School firsts, Rathkeale at 12.30pm (A. Payne).
Open grade: Makoura firsts v Rathkeale seconds, Makoura at 11.15am (V. Peterson); Combined Colleges v Wairarapa seconds, Chanel at 11.15am (A. Stringer).
Junior: Wairarapa Blue v Makoura College, Wairarapa College at 10am (K. Lochhead); Chanel College v Wairarapa Gold, Chanel at 10am (B. Stewart); Rathkeale Green v Kuranui, Rathkeale at 10am (B. Whale).
JAB under-13: Eketahuna-Marist v Carterton, Memorial Park at 10.30am (G. McKeown).