Big Northern Wanganui clash in Ohakune

Ruapehu have lost only once at home this season and need to be strong again at Rochfort Park when Taihape come to Ohakune for the clash of second vs third on Saturday. Photo by Merrilyn George.

The top players of Tasman Tanning Premier rugby will be very eager to see the back of June as they drag themselves out tomorrow for the last game with only a 72 hour break since their previous effort.

After taking three straight hammerings in Steelform Wanganui colours against professional squads during the week days, on top of their weekend club rugby in a tightly compacted Top 5, from the strongest teams it is McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu who have to shoulder the hardest burden, coming into their home clash with PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape.

Competition leaders Waverley Harvesting Border and their six players who challenged for the Ranfurly Shield get a welcome break with their bye weekend tomorrow, having built up an eight point buffer on top of the table.

Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist had five players involved in the Wednesday game, four in the starting lineup, but they had the bye last Saturday to ease the accumulation of bumps and bruises, and will hardly be required to risk life and limb against winless Harvey Round Motors Ratana in the Pa.

So that leaves Ruapehu, third on the table, with five players backing up from Wednesday, having to race a resurgent Taihape, currently in second place with only one player - Dane Whale - pulling double duty.

Whale came on at first-five during the first half in Christchurch for Ruapehu's Craig Clare in what was reported as a blood bin, but he stayed there for the duration.

Flanker Campbell Hart was already out of the Canterbury match with a groin strain, while hooker Roman Tutauha had to gut out a bruised thigh when he came on in the final quarter.

As Taihape must take the bye in the final round-robin weekend, while Ruapehu will face Taihape and Marist on consecutive weekends, whomever slips now could have great difficulty scraping up enough points to be in the Top 4 come July 22.

Taihape won the first round match in a mild surprise as they rebounded from a shock loss to Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri to come from behind and upend Ruapehu 30-24 on April 22.

Having the bye next weekend, Black Bull Liquor Pirates are in must-win mode for the rest of the season if they are to lift from fifth spot, while Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau have nothing to lose in the cross-town derby game at Spriggens Park.

Ngamatapouri had three players in the Wanganui starting lineup on Wednesday, but with their squad filling back out they should be alright for the long trip to Taihape to meet Utiku Old Boys at Memorial Park.