Back to basics approach needed

Wairarapa-Bush will be working hard on ball retention in their lead-up to their Heartland championship rugby match with Mid-Canterbury at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.

Head coach Mark Rutene was frustrated at the amount of ball turned over during the 27-19 loss to Wanganui last weekend, saying he counted 13 times in the first half alone where possession was virtually gifted to their opposition.

"We weren't clinical enough at the breakdowns, the ball security there simply wasn't good enough," he said. "We were only going two or three phases at the most before things broke down, we couldn't get any continuity into our game."

It was by no means all bad news for Wairarapa-Bush though with Rutene quick to pay tribute to his players for the tenacity of their defence against a Wanganui side which clearly had the greater share of territory and possession.

"Yes, the defence was very encouraging, we had to make a lot of tackles and I thought we coped well.

"They only got the two tries, and one of them was while we were a player short.

"It kept us in the game, no doubt about that."

Picking up a bonus point for finishing within seven points or less of the winning team was also important for Wairarapa-Bush as it enabled them to retain a top three spot on the points table.

They now have 14 points, behind only Wanganui (17) and South Canterbury (15), but still have plenty of work to do if they are to make the Meads Cup playoffs which will be contested by the leading four teams at the end of the preliminary round.

Right behind them are East Coast (12), North Otago (11) and Poverty Bay (10) and there are still four matches to be played before the semifinal berths are decided.

Next opponent Mid-Canterbury is well down the list on six points but can certainly not be classified as "easy beats" when you consider they have already beaten North Otago and picked up bonus points against both Wanganui and East Coast.

They will come to Masterton aware that a loss would virtually end their Meads Cup semifinal aspirations and Rutene is anticipating another battle royal.

Rutene and assistant coach Paddy Gough seem likely to have a full squad to select from for the Mid-Canterbury fixture.

Ace flanker James Goodger has missed the last couple of Heartland games through injury but should be fully recovered for this one and it's difficult to imagine him not being included in the starting line-up.