Eketahuna will have plenty to play for in their Wellington premier division women's rugby match with Oriental-Rongotai at Eketahuna on Saturday.
A win would guarantee Eketahuna a home-semi-final, probably against Johnsonville, the following weekend and there is the possibility of it being played at Memorial Park.
Last weekend's 31-19 loss to unbeaten Norths was the first defeat suffered by Eketahuna in the top six playoffs and they could blame a slow start for it. They were down 24-0 after about as many minutes and after clawing back to 24-19 they conceded a late converted try.
Interestingly enough the last time Eketahuna played Oriental-Rongotai they were given a decent beating but they were severely depleted on that occasion and coach Cory Miller is confident they will reserve the result on Saturday.
"We'll have everybody on deck this time and if we play to anywhere near our potential we should come up trumps quite comfortably, "he said.
Miller expects Oriental-Rongotai to test Eketahuna up front but he anticipates the home team having too much pace and flair in the backs for the visitors.
We won't be wanting to get too tied up in the set pieces, the more we can spread the ball wide the better for us," he said.
Meanwhile the Wairarapa-Bush premier division men's match between Eketahuna and Greytown will be played under lights at Eketahuna on Friday evening, starting at 7pm.
Of the two teams Greytown are still very much in contention for a semi-final spot and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to playing under conditions which should favour the home side on the basis of local knowledge. Andrew Stringer will referee the match.
The draw for Saturday is:-
Premier division:
Masterton Red Star v Carterton, Memorial Park at 2.30pm (G.Moorcock; M.Porter and J.Devine); Puketoi v Marist, Pongaroa at 2.30pm (G.Reisima); East Coast v Gladstone, Whareama at 2.30pm (D.Goodin; D.Hurley and T.Penny); Martinborough v Pioneer, Martinborough at 2.30pm (C.Jefferies; T.Lyford and home team).
Senior reserves
A section: Masterton Red Star v Carterton, Memorial Park at 1pm (M.Porter); Martinborough v Pioneer, Martinborough at 1pm (T.Lyford); Tuhirangi v Eketahuna, Pirinoa at 2.30pm (G.Hall). B section: East Coast v Gladstone, Whareama at 1pm (D.Hurley); Greytown v Featherston, Greytown at 1pm (K.Lochhead); Marist a bye,
Colts:
Eketahuna v Varsity Agricultural, Eketahuna at 1pm (E.Wallace).
Women:
Eketahuna v Oriental-Rongotai, Eketahuna at 1pm (T.Roseingrave).
