Rams look to kick on

Masterton Red Star were the surprise packets of the Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby competition last Saturday and they will be looking for more of the same when they host East Coast at Memorial Park, Masterton tomorrow.
Before their convincing eight-try win over Puketoi eight days ago all the talk was about Stars propping up the bottom of the competition table but now the Wayne Loader-coached combination is being viewed in a different light.
No one, not even their own players or management, are suggesting they will be a front runner for the semi-finals but they now have to be respected, at the very least.
East Coast for one won't be taking them lightly. They have lost both of their opening games, to Carterton and to Martinborough, and will know that another defeat will severely dent their own top four prospects.
One suspects the Coasters will be aiming to dominate the forward exchanges with the idea of nullifying the effect the old hands in the Stars rearguard, Peter Bresaz and Chris Osborne, have on proceedings.How successful they are in that objective is sure to play a big part in the final outcome.
Other first division games tomorrow are:-
PUKETOI V EKETAHUNA, Pongaroa at 2.30pm: The form books says Eketahuna should win in a canter but, remember, the game is being played at Pongaroa and Puketoi have often been a real handful there.From what we've seen so far though the prospects are that Puketoi will keep the defending championships honest up front but the Eketahuna backs should be too slick and too smart.
MARTINBOROUGH V PIONEER, Martinborough at 2.30pm: Ask a week ago who would win here and Pioneer would have been the firm favourites. But with Martinborough continuing their unbeaten record last Saturday and Pioneer showing certain deficiencies in their loss to Carterton it just might be a bit closer than what was originally thought. The acid test for Martinborough will come in the scrums and in the loose forward department. Pioneer are especially strong in both areas and if they dominate there the expected victory should come. Conversely, if Martinborough can make a decent go of it in the set pieces they have enough flair in their backs to make it interesting.
CARTERTON V MARIST, Carterton at 2.30pm: Carterton have become the popular pick for first division honours this season after securing wins over two of the other main contenders, Greytown-Tuhirangi and Pioneer, but it's still hard to say just how good they are.
For instance the scrum had be a major worry against Pioneer and too many scoring chances were wasted against the combined side.In their favour though the maroons have still to field anything like a full strength side which means in turn that the best is still to be seen of them.They will need to be wary of Marist though for in Nathan Couch and a promising newcomer from the Bay of Plenty in Trent Vatselias they have a couple of likely lads about ready to boost their backline.If one or both of them appear tomorrow and goal kicker Patrick Rimene is his usual reliable self there mightn't be a lot in it.
GLADSTONE V GREYTOWN-TUHIRANGI, Gladstone at 2.30pm: Gladstone will be looking for better rewards than they have come up with so far this season.
They have played well enough against Marist and Eketahuna but have just a couple of competition points to show for it. Things won't get any easier tomorrow though. Greytown-Tuhirangi bounced back to winning form against Marist last weekend and give the impression they will only get better from hereon in.
You'd have to fancy their chances of having the edge on Gladstone in the forwards and that just might be winning of the game for them. Word is that a Dutch international, who plays in the inside backs, will join Greytown-Tuhirangi soon and that should further help their cause.