WAVERLEY Harvesting Border coach Ross Williams had a quiet Wednesday evening as he waited for the news.
Preparing for this weekend's top of the table Tasman Tanning Premier clash with PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape at Dallison Park, Williams had sent eight of his players into the fray in Palmerston North forthe Steelform Wanganui pre-season game with Manawatu Evergreens - over twice as many as any other club. Halfback Lindsay Horrocks and No8 Renato Tikoisolomone had been last-minute additions to the six already chosen - Tikoisolomone ironically coming in for Taihape captain Tremaine Gilbert, who was withdrawn.
It means Williams will be rearranging the chess pieces for tomorrow's game as his side looks to avenge their only loss in 2016, the 36-30 defeat at Memorial Park.
"A Wednesday rep game isn't ideal but I was certainly going to make sure my players went and had a crack," said Williams. "And if that meant we lost a couple of players, and we have, that's the nature of the beast."
Tryscoring loose forward Jake Alabaster was already nursing a sore AC joint and will now miss tomorrow, while prop Tietie Tuimauga is a 50/50 starter.
Both locks Sam Madams and Gavin Thornbury are banged up after a big game and Williams will likely start only one of them with the other coming off the bench. It stretches the resources with MVP season leader Nick Harding already on the sideline with a hamstring injury and while he had a jog around last night, Williams was penciling in next week as the return date.
"We're fairly battered. I have to get a final reading tonight [Thursday training]," he said. "It's about keeping the squad fit and healthy. "We've just got to go in there pretty motivated and have a crack."
The "talented kid" Grayson Tihema has come in and performed admirably at fullback, although he does not have same goal-kicking accuracy of leading points scorer Harding, which could give the visitors an advantage with Dane Whale, Taylor Tramsom and Tom Wells all capable of taking the tee. Whale and prop Hadlee Hay-Horton are likely to have their own bumps from Wednesday night, while the status of Gilbert will be known tomorrow.
Although both squads are clear and free of the chasing pack for getting home semifinals, Taihape coach Kerry Whale has spoken of his desire to finish top of the table to guarantee the best possible route to the grand final on July 23. After an undefeated first round of competition - the first since the current club was formed in 1999 - Taihape hit a couple of speed wobbles as they were upset by Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist to lose the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield, and then last week were held to a narrow victory by their cellar-dweller neighbours Utiku Old Boys, which allowed Border to move one point ahead on the table. They have not won in five previous trips to Waverley, although given Williams will rotate his bench players in for regular starters, he is expecting a hard contest. "They're consistently the form team. They've obviously had a bit going on - puts the pressure on."
The Top 4 picture could change or be almost confirmed this weekend as new Grand Hotel Shield holders McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu remain in do-or-die mode as they travel to Spriggens Park to face another old foe in Black Bull Liquor Pirates. Craig Clare picking up a quad strain will be a concern for Ruapehu, who need to win to stay in touch with fourth place and are facing a Pirates outfit also having a small resurgence, even if too late to defend their 2015 title. Both Marist and Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau will be praying Pirates can do them a favour as they look to get much needed bonus-points wins in their away games to Harvey Round Motors Ratana and Utiku respectively.
