Season a week-to-week affair

HE'S OVER: Referee James Doleman signals a try to Wairarapa-Bush lock Sam Marshall-Wilson (with headband) during the Heartland championship match with Mid-Canterbury at Memorial Park on Saturday.PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

The unpredictability of the 2014 Heartland rugby championship could work in Wairarapa-Bush's favour as the season progresses.

Sitting in ninth place with only two competition points, after a beating by King Country and a draw with Mid-Canterbury in their opening two games, the odds might seem to be against Wairarapa-Bush making it into the top four at the end of eight weeks of qualifying play, something which would earn them a place in the Meads Cup semifinals for the third successive year.

But if results from the first two rounds are anything to go by, the points table is set to change drastically from week to week and, that being the case, there is every chance those languishing at, or near, the bottom of the table will have significantly enhanced their position come the business end of the Heartland season.

Nothing better illustrates the unpredictability factor this year than the fate of the four Meads Cup semifinalists from 2013 - Mid-Canterbury, North Otago, Wairarapa-Bush and West Coast.

Mid-Canterbury started with a big win over West Coast before escaping with a rather fortuitous draw against Wairarapa-Bush, North Otago was beaten by Buller before disposing of Poverty Bay, Wairarapa-Bush took a thumping from King Country before bouncing back to share the spoils with Mid-Canterbury while West Coast have been on the end of hefty beatings from both Mid-Canterbury and South Canterbury.

And how about the two teams that fought out the Meads Cup final in 2012, East Coast and Wanganui? They have yet to pick up a point this time round, East Coast having been walloped by Poverty Bay and Buller and Wanganui losing to South Canterbury and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Remarkably, it is South Canterbury (10pts) and Buller (9) who hold sway at the top of the ladder. They were fifth and seventh respectively at the end of qualifying rounds last year and then met in the Lochore Cup final, as they had also done in 2012. Mid-Canterbury is third with 7pts and fourth-equal on 6 are Poverty Bay, Thames Valley and Horowhenua-Kapiti. North Otago and King Country are on 5, Wairarapa-Bush have 2 and Wanganui, West Coast and East Coast have yet to open their account.

Judging by what has occurred so far, it would be a brave punter who would wager big money on the likely outcome of this coming Saturday's matches. Wairarapa-Bush will travel to Timaru to take on South Canterbury. The form book says a win to the home team is on the cards, but if the Wairarapa-Bush forwards are in the same rampant mood as they were against Mid-Canterbury anything could happen.

Buller won't find King Country easy in Te Kuiti and if West Coast are to redeem themselves then upsetting Poverty Bay in Gisborne would be a good start. Thames Valley have home advantage on their side against Mid-Canterbury at Paeroa and the same goes for Wanganui who will be desperate to give their supporters something to celebrate when they confront North Otago. That leaves Horowhenua-Kapiti v East Coast at Otaki and, while Horowhenua-Kapiti will be firm favourites, East Coast will have the motivation of knowing a third straight loss could end their Meads Cup aspirations.