Wairarapa-Bush wing under injury cloud

Pacy winger Cameron Hayton is the only doubtful starter for Wairarapa-Bush's Heartland championship match with North Otago at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.

Hayton left the field during the 22-15 win over King Country in Taupo last weekend with a calf strain and will have to prove his fitness by tomorrow night's final training session if he is to retain his place in the starting line-up.

It would be a huge blow to Wairarapa-Bush should Hayton be ruled out. He has been one of the success stories of the backline throughout their Heartland campaign, not only impressing with his pace but also with his ability to slip tackles through a mix of clever footwork and sheer determination.

Interestingly it was regular halfback Inia Katia who was moved out to the wing when Hayton left the field at Taupo and he was a big hit in that role, scoring his team's first try and proving elusive whenever the ball came his way.

Katia is hardly a novice on the wing, having played much of his club rugby there for Gladstone this season. With Matt O'Connor perhaps having his nose in front to start at halfback against North Otago, Katia could find himself on the wing again should Hayton be ruled out.

A win to Wairarapa-Bush on Saturday would very probably guarantee them a place in the semifinals of the Heartland championship's premier section, the Meads Cup, for the first time since 2006 when they won the trophy.

Conversely, however, a loss would almost certainly leave them needing to beat Horowhenua-Kapiti in the last of their preliminary round games on October 13 to make it into the top four.

North Otago will miss the Meads Cup semifinals for only the second time in the past six years should they lose to Wairarapa-Bush this weekend.

With three wins from six matches, they are sixth on 15 points, six points behind the three teams in third equal, South Canterbury, East Coast and Buller, and seven in arrears of joint pacesetters Wanganui and Wairarapa-Bush.

That suggests North Otago will have to pick up the maximum five points against Wairarapa-Bush and Thames Valley the following weekend in their last two preliminary round matches to have any chance of reaching the semifinals.

Which suggests in turn they will have no option but to play an expansive style of rugby in Masterton because of the need to win and secure a bonus point for scoring four or more tries.

The full North Otago record in 2012 Heartland games is: beat King Country 31-30, beat Buller 22-15, lost to Mid-Canterbury 3-7, lost to South Canterbury 37-52, beat Poverty Bay 24-23, lost to Wanganui 22-39.