Easter delivers fans best spread since Marmite

Wairarapa-Bush rugby supporters have a wonderful spread of Easter weekend premier division action ahead.

Two of the games will be under lights tonight, with Eketahuna hosting Puketoi and Gladstone up against Bush Sports at Gladstone.

Tomorrow, the East Coast and Marist sides will do battle at Whareama, while on Saturday it will be Rams against Pioneer at Memorial Park and Greytown tackling Carterton at Greytown.

Both games tonight should be interesting affairs, especially the clash at Gladstone where the defending champions will be taking on the new boys on the block, Bush Sports, who had big wins in their first two games.

Gladstone, though, promise to be a different kettle of fish for them after Rams and Marist, and while Bush Sports will start favourites they clearly won't get things all their own way.

Puketoi will be aiming to post their first win of the season at Eketahuna in what could be a game of contrasting tactics.

It seems certain that Puketoi will look to use the pace of their outside backs, while Eketahuna are likely to be content to keep the ball close to their rugged pack.

Just how much ball Puketoi manage to win could decide it.

No matter which way you look at the Whareama match, you have to think a comfortable East Coast victory is on the cards, and it would also be a major upset if Pioneer did not make it three from three when they take on Rams.

While Rams will lack nothing on the score of endeavour, Pioneer's greater depth at back and forward should give them the final say.

Any time arch-rivals Greytown and Carterton meet, there is always plenty of good-natured banter around and Saturday's clash will be no different.

Carterton surprised even their most ardent admirers when they beat Puketoi by a handy margin in their only appearance to date, while Greytown looked in need of a gallop when they lost to Pioneer last Saturday.

Greytown will lift their game to ensure that any Carterton complacency will be costly.

The full draw for club play is:

Today. Premier division: Eketahuna v Puketoi, Eketahuna at 7.30pm (T Roseingrave; S O'Gorman and K Lochhead); Gladstone v Bush Sports, Gladstone at 7.30pm (A Stringer; C Jefferies and P Thompson).

Tomorrow. Premier division: East Coast v Marist, Whareama at 2.30pm (G Moorcock; C Jefferies and B Stewart). Senior reserves: East Coast v Gladmarist, Whareama at 1pm (C Jefferies).

Saturday. Premier division: Rams v Pioneer, Memorial Park at 2.30pm (A Payne; G Hall and P Thompson); Greytown v Carterton, Greytown at 2.30pm (S Andrew; G Reisima and P Weeks); Martinborough a bye. Senior reserves: Rams v Pioneer, Memorial Park at 1pm (G Hall); Greytown v Carterton, Greytown at 1pm (P Weeks); Bush Sports and Martinborough byes.