D-Day for eight teams as cup semifinals loom

The heat is on in the Wairarapa-Bush Tui Cup premier division rugby competition.

All eight sides still have a chance of reaching the semifinals but results tomorrow promise to have a big say in which teams eventually make it that far.

Current leaders Martinborough (10 points) take on second-placed Greytown (8) at Greytown and the home team will have the motivation of playing in front of many of the club's 1992 senior A squad which won the championship 20 years ago.

They are having a reunion over the weekend and will be doing their bit to cheer the current line-up to victory over a Martinborough side which will start favourite, albeit a narrow one.

Pioneer (5) suffered their first defeat of the season last Saturday when they were edged out by Gladstone and they probably won't find it any easier against East Coast (5) at the Jeans Street grounds in Masterton.

Both sides have some slick backs and an entertaining fixture is in prospect.

Eketahuna (0) are at home to Bush Sports (2) in a match which should produce a torrid forward struggle.

Bush Sports have looked a serious contender for Tui Cup honours all season and the odds are in their favour but Eketahuna know another defeat will basically see them out of the reckoning and will lack nothing on the score of endeavour.

The Tui Cup grand finalists from last year, Carterton (2) and Gladstone (5) do battle at Carterton, with Gladstone's stocks soaring after their upset win over Pioneer.

The draw for tomorrow is: Premier division: Eketahuna v Bush Sports, Eketahuna, at 2.30pm (A. Payne); Pioneer v East Coast, Jeans Street, at 2.30pm (S. Andrew); Carterton v Gladstone, Carterton at 2.30pm (S. O'Gorman); Greytown v Martinborough, Greytown, at 2.30pm (T. Roseingrave). Senior thirds: Eketahuna v Bush Sports, Eketahuna, at 1pm (V. Peterson); Gladmarist v Masterton Red Star, Memorial Park, at 1pm (D. Goodin); Greytown v East Coast, Greytown, at 1pm (W. Jeffries). Manawatu colts: Ruamahanga v Oroua, Memorial Park 2, at 1pm (P. Thompson). Wellington women's premier: Eketahuna v OBU, Eketahuna, at 11.10pm (B. Wills). Secondary schools first XV: Kuranui v Aotea, Kuranui, at 1pm (C. Jefferies). JAB under-13: Rams Black v Gladstone-East Coast, Colombo Road, at 10.30am (G. McKeown).