All systems go for Masterton Red Star

It will be all systems go for Masterton Red Star when they play Carterton in a Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby match at Carterton tomorrow.
In what has been a memorable return to the top league after a season's absence Masterton Red Star have won six of their seven matches to date and with 26pts sit in second place on the points table, just 3pts in arrears of East Coast.
The two sides actually have the same win-loss record with the difference being in bonus points, East Coast having accumulated five and Masterton Red Star 2.
Right now the odds are heavily in favour of either of those teams taking out the Chris Kapene Memorial Trophy for being the leading side at the end of one complete round of premier division matches.
Just two series of games remain to be played before decision time and while third-placed Carterton (23pts) still have a chance of overhauling the two front runners it is an outside chance at best.
Carterton does, however, have the opportunity to upset the applecart for Masterton Red Star tomorrow and they will be dangerous opponents, especially on their home track.
One suspects this will be a match of contrasting tactics with Carterton revolving their game plan around a mix of forward domination and the trusty boot of first-five Jono Hurley and Masterton Red Star looking to utilise the attacking qualities of backs like Jordan Watene and Hemi Tupaea.
Just how Masterton Red Star cope with Carterton in the set pieces could be the deciding factor.
They will be confronting the best lineout jumper in the region, Tomasi Kedrabuka, and a Carterton scrum which can usually be relied on to provide a stable platform and if and it is a big if they can break even in those departments the greater flair in their rearguard could give them the final say.
Pioneer will be wanting to up the ante when they host Martinborough at the Park Sportsground in Masterton. They would have been disappointed at the lack of fire from their forwards and poor option taking from their backs in the big loss to East Coast last Saturday and will know that an ever-improving Martinborough side will also take them to the cleaners if the same problems persist.
East Coast will start warm favourites against Gladstone at Gladstone with the thought that a win here could actually guarantee them the Kapene Trophy providing an extra incentive for a big effort.
The unity of the East Coast forwards last weekend was impressive and enabled them to turn over a wealth of possession at the breakdowns and there was a lot to like about the astuteness of inside backs Luke McKenna, Zeb Aporo and Sam Mitchell.
Gladstone came within three points of claiming Masterton Red Star's scalp last weekend and are slowly but surely returning to the sort of form which has made them such a formidable side in Wairarapa-Bush club rugby over recent times. They won't mind a physical confrontation up front and if the Coasters are at all complacent an upset victory is not beyond them.
Greytown and Eketahuna should have a cracker of a game at Greytown with both teams desperately needing maximum points to keep them in contention for a semi-final berth later in the season. Goal kicking has been a bugbear for Eketahuna lately and in what should be a close encounter they will need to improve their percentage rate in that department to put their noses in front.
Marist will be all the rage against Puketoi at Memorial Park, especially if their young backs who are making excellent progress under the coaching of Nathan Couch get the opportunity to cut loose on a regular basis. They will need to be wary though of the Puketoi pack who will be fancying their chances of bullying their Marist counterparts into submission in the tighter exchanges.
On the women's rugby front Eketahuna will be travelling over the hill for their Wellington premier division match against Petone well aware the quality of opposition will be hugely better than Wainuiomata offered last weekend.
Eketahuna won that game by a massive 124-7 but as a lead-in to a match against a Petone team which will be much more structured and organised it was not exactly ideal.
Mobility could be a key factor for Eketahuna with loose forwards Perri Tatana and Emma Aldworth sure to be quick to the breakdowns and Jesse Bennett Rebecca Hull and Shakira Baker giving them attacking strength in depth in the backs.