Early start tough on clubs

The overlying message from coaches of teams kicking off their 2011 Wairarapa premier division club rugby campaigns tomorrow is the same.
There is unanimity in the view that results in the first few weeks could count for little when it comes to the main championship, the Tui Cup, later in the season.
Especially now that the WBRFU's council of clubs has decided in its wisdom that points gained in the first round won't count towards the Tui Cup anyway, other than to formulate the teams in the two pools.
The earlier-than-usual start to club play because of the effects of New Zealand hosting the World Cup means many of the premier teams are still in the process of finalising their squads and, for some, just getting a full muster to this weekend's fixtures will be a triumph in itself. How they perform is basically a secondary consideration for them right now.
Last year's beaten finalists - and 2009 champions - Masterton Red Star, will square off against Marist in the season-opener at Memorial Park.
Masterton Red Star have lost big-kicking Byron Karaitiana to East Coast, and also two of their most consistent forwards of recent times in Jordan Sutherland and Geordie McCallum, but in the likes of Jake Bubb, Tyrone McTavish, Chris Senior and Heemi Tupaea they have an experienced core who know what it takes to get the best out of those around them.
Marist, too, have lost a key figure in utility back Nathan Couch, but making the backline performance interesting is the news that two of their most promising youngsters, Shannon Lewis and Daniel Blong, are to fill the vital halfback and first-five roles respectively. Kerry Hargood's return after a lengthy absence will be a boon to the pack, where prominent figures are sure to be Corey Reid, James Goodger, Ben Couch and Rhys Severn.
Defending champions Carterton travel to Greytown for a local derby which invariably is noted for rugged play, and this should be no exception. Some keen tussles for possession in the set pieces should take place between Carterton's Tomasi Kedrabuka, Dylan Higgison, John McFadzean and Mike Wakefield, and Greytown's Kurt Simmonds, Nick Day, Gareth van Dalen and Brett Aitken. Both teams have backs with proven attacking skills ... notably Jono Hurley and Lance Stevenson, for Carterton, and the Isaac brothers, Tavita and Senoa, for Greytown.
East Coast are at home to Pioneer at Whareama, with Pioneer's form sure to command attention. They have regained a number of players who left to don the Carterton colours last year - Tommy Harmon, Tipene Haira, Lee Ewe, Charlie Brown and Mike Harmon among them - and are already being touted as among the Tui Cup front-runners. That's a far cry from last year, when they were at the bottom of the points table.
East Coast also seem certain to be serious title contenders, what with the addition of Byron Karaitiana to a backline already boasting proven performers in Zeb Aporo, Jesse McGilvary, Sam Mitchell and Nic Olson, and a pack with its share of durable types, Joe Feast,TK Karaitiana and Walter Williams to name a few.
Martinborough host Eketahuna, with the return of lively flanker Jared Hawkins and hard-nosed prop Wilbur Davies major boosts for the home side.
They can also rely on the likes of Daniel George and Adam Marshall to add grunt to a pack which will have experienced halfback James Bruce yapping at their heels.
Eketahuna look to have one of the best-equipped forward units in the competition, with Brendan Walker and Campbell Lawrence anchoring their scrum and Daniel Griffin and Brandan Young spearheading the lineout.
Puketoi and Gladstone will meet at Pongoroa. Puketoi are never easy to beat at home and with Duncan Law, Hamish Walker and Evan Small turning out again. they are sure to be a handful up front, while Jason Liverton and Greg Archibald are capable playmakers in the backs.
Gladstone are said to have some Fijian "imports" this season but whether they play this weekend is doubtful. They won't lack fire in the forward exchanges, with Tim Fleming, John Stevenson and Andrew McLean leading the way, while Charlie Bargh and Andrew McKay are backs with the skill to make a difference.