The form book says winners should be easy to pick when matches in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's senior first division competition enter the sixth round tomorrow.
Defending champions they might be but with just the one win behind them it's difficult to imagine Carterton toppling Eketahuna even though Carterton will have
the home advantage.
Eketahuna have had just the solitary loss to date and a comprehensive victory over one of the more serious title contenders in Greytown-Tuhirangi last weekend would have done their confidence no harm.
They will almost definitely be without inspirational captain Steve Olds who damaged a shoulder in last Sunday's Wairarapa-Bush trial match, but while that will lessen their attacking oomph around the fringes of the rucks and mauls to some degree it shouldn't be enough to give Carterton the edge.
Eketahuna's all-round strength is evidenced by the fact they have nine players in the 31-man Wairarapa-Bush squad to play Wellington at Memorial Park next Tuesday, five forwards and four backs.
Gladstone will put their unbeaten record on the line when they front up to Martinborough at Martinborough.
The southerners might only have just the one player ? loosie Jarrod Hawkins ? in the rep side compared to Gladstone's seven, but they have impressed enough with their enthusiasm in early-season games to suggest the final scoreline might be somewhat closer than most pundits would predict.
Marist didn't hit their straps until the last quarter against Puketoi last weekend and will be looking for a more consistent effort in their game at Memorial Park against a Masterton Red Star side keen to bounce back from their default to Gladstone, caused by the unavailability of several of their forwards.
Stars management were confident that unfortunate situation was a "one off" but even at full strength they will struggle to match a Marist side guided by experienced inside backs Patrick Rimene and Nathan Couch.
Pioneer will be warm favourites to beat Puketoi at Puketoi but they will be treading warily as the crocked ankle suffered by astute tactician Richard Carroll last weekend will see him sidelined and his absence as the main playmaker will be keenly felt.
Puketoi will probably make a good game of it up front but with the likes of Jamie Smallman and Jordan Fox to call on Pioneer should have enough attacking talent in the backs to secure maximum points.
Greytown-Tuhirangi were well beaten by Eketahuna last Saturday but the odds must favour them returning to winning form against East Coast at Greytown.
History does indicate though that games between these two clubs are invariably closely contested and the Coasters do have more to offer than their formline would suggest
Interestingly enough both sides have just the one player in Tuesday's rep side, prop Brent Rudman for Greytown-Tuhirangi and halfback Zeb Aporo for East Coast.
The form book says winners should be easy to pick when matches in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's senior first division competition enter the sixth round tomorrow.
Defending champions they might be but with just the one win behind them it's difficult to imagine Carterton toppling Eketahuna even though Carterton will have
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.