Rugby
Round six of the Moose Kapene Memorial Cup tomorrow has a couple of intriguing ties in store for local rugby fans.
Not the least of these will be the top of the table clash when Greytown host East Coast.
Greytown were made to work hard to secure the win against a determined Eketahuna side last weekend and the Coasties, who lie second on the table, will be out to make life as difficult as possible for the undefeated competition leaders. Both sides know their way to the tryline with Greytown crossing the whitewash no less than 23 times so far this season.
In Tavita Isaac Greytown have the second highest try scorer in the competition with seven touchdowns while the Coasties have the third highest try scorer in Ben Holmes with six tries. Given favourable conditions, a high scoring game could be on the cards but it is hard to see the Coasties stopping the unbeaten home side.
Another interesting tie could be played out at Jeans St where Pioneer entertain the improving Martinborough. This fixture sees the two sides contest the Reiri Cup held at the moment by Martinborough as well as being old timers' day.
Pioneer will be without key pivot Hoani Peacock who suffered a leg injury last weekend and just who takes over in the 10 jersey will be a real point of interest.
Peacock is an astute playmaker with a knack of unleashing the free-running Pioneer backline through his reading of situations. Whoever takes over the role will need to step up to the mark in that regard. However, in Joseph Thompson Pioneer have a nippy halfback who has registered over 50 points this season and who will relieve some of the pressure on the stand-in first-five.
For their part, Martinborough are coming off two successive victories and will want to maintain that momentum which has seen them rise to third on the table. Tipi Haira is the second highest points scorer this season to date with a personal haul of 66 points and will be keen to add to that tally against his former Pioneer team-mates.
Bush Sports entertain Gladstone at Pahiatua buoyed by their 30-all draw against Pioneer last time out. They will need to repeat this points scoring feat if they are to topple a Gladstone side who themselves registered 59 points last weekend and who possess, in Cameron Hayton, the top try scorer (8) and also the highest individual points scorer (90).
Gladstone lie in fourth spot on the table and can't be ruled out as far as lifting the Kapene Cup is concerned but will need to come away with all five points from this encounter if they are to retain any realistic chance of overtaking Greytown or East Coast.
Marist host Carterton at Memorial Park. Each side has registered just one victory this season and both are coming off away losses from last weekend. Carterton may want to keep the game tight amongst the forwards while Marist could look to move the ball wide as much as possible.
Eketahuna travel to Puketoi encouraged by their determined effort against Greytown last Saturday and will look to this game to get back to winning ways against a Puketoi side which has struggled all season and yet to register a competition point.
Senior reserve grades follow the same pattern as their premier counterparts with two exceptions: Marist entertain Tuhirangi on Memorial Park No 2 while Masterton Red Star host Eketahuna on Memorial Park No 1. All reserve grade games kick off at 1pm.