Forwards hold key

Both coaches agree that the outcome of the Wairarapa-Bush premier division grand final rugby match between Carterton and Eketahuna at Memorial Park, Masterton on Sarturday is likely to depend on which of the two sides dominate the forward exchanges.
But Carterton coach Steve Hurley and his Eketahuna counterpart David Smith also agree that the method of achieving that domination will be as different as chalk and cheese.
Hurley sees Eketahuna's greatest strength as being their unity, with their bulky tight forwards relishing the more static aspects of the game like scrums, rucks and mauls.
"They like to slow things up, to have the game played at their own pace," he said. "Physically they are very strong and they look to wear you down. If we can't move them around we'll be in trouble."
Smith says the number of skilled ball players in the Carterton pack meant they were at their most dangerous in broken play situations.
"If play breaks up and they can run off each other they can very hard to stop, they are big and fast and they enjoy getting out in the open spaces.They test your defence, that's for sure."
The Eketahuna coach isn't falling into the trap either of under-rating the Carterton backs who don't have quite the same profile as their forwards, which isn't surprising when you consider as many as six of their pack have been part of the Wairarapa-Bush squad this season.
"Their backs are pretty handy as well; they might not be flashy but they've shown they can put points on the board," Smith said. "We have to keep a close eye on them too."
Young fullback Jono Hurley-son of Steve- is one to watch in the points scoring department, having racked up 155pts for Carterton so far this season, mainly through his accurate goal kicking.
Eketahuna too have a prolific scorer at fullback in the form of Simanu Simanu and Steve Hurley agrees that he and the other long-time Wairarapa-Bush rep in the Eketahuna rearguard, halfback Hamish McKenzie, give them experience and skill in two vital playmaking positions. "Players like them can wins games with flashes of individual brilliance and we have to be constantly aware of that," he said.
It is interesting that both Steve Hurley and Dave Smith have themselves experienced the thrill of a grand final win, Hurley with Carterton back in 1990 (the last time they won the premier division title) and Smith with Eketahuna in the last two years.
They also won in 2003 but he was not part of that side.
Smith has been player-coach for Eketahuna this season and actually played a full part in their semi-final win last weekend because first choice flanker Solly Alsop was sidelined with an ankle injury. And with Alsop still struggling for fitness the chances are that Smith will be part of the starting XV again this Saturday.
The likely starting line-ups are:-
Carterton: Jono Hurley; Jason Brown, James Matthews, Lance Stevenson, Damon Searle; Nathan Sanson; Jason Scott; Brodie Duffin; Reuben Daysh, Tomasi Kedabrabuka, Langi Peters, Andrew Compain; Bert Buckle, Joe Harwood, Jeremy Sargent.
Eketahuna: Simanu Simanu; Joji Tamani, Adam Fisher, John Guillard, Johnny Harris; Darren Yates; Hamish McKenzie; Steve Olds; David Smith, Peter Bond, Josh Mackley, Luke Mahoney; Andgus McMillan, Matthew Cox, Brendan Walker.
Meanwhile, refereeing appointments have been confirmed for grand finals day and a former Wairarapa-Bush skipper in John Kendal has been named to control the premier division decider.
He gets the nod over Graeme Reisima and Andrew Stringer who refereed last weekend's semi-finals. They will be the line umpires on Saturday..
The full draw for this weekend is:-
Premier A grade final: Carterton v Eketahuna, Memorial Park at 3pm (J.Kendal;
A.Stringer and G.Reisima).
Premier B grade final: East Coast v Martinborough, Memorial park No.1 at 1.15 pm (T.Roseingrave; D.Goodin and G.Hall).
President's grade final final: East Coast v Eketahuna, Memorial Park No.2 at 1pm (C.Jefferies; M.Brown and B.King).
Under-19: East Coast v Stokes Valley, Memorial Park 1 at 11.30am (B.King); Greytown-Tuhirangi v Johnsonville, Greytown at 1pm (B.Whale); Martinborough v Petone, Martinborough at 1pm (N.Burt).
First XV: Wairarapa College v Dannevirke, Wairarapa College at 1pm (G.Reisima); Rathkeale v Waiopehu, Rathkeale at 1pm (A.Stringer); Wairarapa seconds v PNBHS fourths, Wairarapa College at 12.30am (D.Hands).
Junior college: Chanel v Rathkeale A, Chanel at 9.30am (P.Walker); Makoura v Wairarapa Blue, Makoura at 9.30am (no referee listed); Kuranui v Wairarapa Black, Kuranui at 9.30am (K.Lyford); Wairarapa Gold a bye.
Three Wairarapa-Bush JAB teams will be involved in matches against Western Suburbs at Carterton on Sunday.
The under-11s will kick off at 12 noon and the under-12 and under-13s at 1pm.