Hard to call Tui Cup semifinal winners

The goal kickers could have a big say in the outcome of the two semifinal matches in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's Tui Cup premier division competition tomorrow.

Successful penalty and conversion attempts have been the exception rather than the norm in club rugby this season.

And with the Greytown v Gladstone fixture at Greytown and the Martinborough v East Coast match at Martinborough sure to be closely contested, who does best in that department might well decide which of the four advance to the grand final.

The referees will, of course, have an important bearing in that respect. There have been games this season where they have come down hard on offences in the rucks and mauls and tackle situations and teams will need to adjust quickly to their interpretation of the laws in those areas.

It will be interesting too to see how the referees - in this case Scott Andrew at Greytown and Shay O'Gorman at Martinborough - apply the advantage rule.

All four semifinalists have shown a propensity to keep the ball moving and will no doubt be hoping the officials are prepared to do their bit to allow for that to happen on a regular basis.

Greytown should be fancying their prospects against Gladstone. After all, they have already beaten them twice this season and were the best performed team in the Tui Cup qualifying round.

Tempering their confidence, however, will be the knowledge that Gladstone came from off the pace to win the premiership last year and that, in players such as Andrew McLean, Richard Puddy, Inia Katia, John Bailey and Cameron Hayton, they have enough experience and skill to give a strong account of themselves.

Greytown, for their part, will be banking on old heads such as skipper Kurt Simmonds, PJ Freeman, Norm Henricksen and Tana Isaac to call the tune up front and give nippy halfback Joseph Sio the chance to set alight a rearguard which will feature three more of the Isaac family, Seanoa at fullback, Tavita on the wing and Tapaga in the midfield.

Which takes us back to the goal kicking. Greytown missed several kicks from reasonable range last weekend and Gladstone no longer has the services of their ace in that department, Guy Wood. Some nervous times will be afoot when shots are lined up tomorrow.

Martinborough are pretty much in the same situation as Greytown leading into their semi against East Coast.

They too have beaten their opponents twice already this season and have home advantage. Therefore the favourite tag has to lie with them.

Here too though the form book may not tell the whole story as East Coast, like Gladstone, have enough experience and talent in their line-up to beat any team on their day.

Their big test here will be to earn a reasonable share of possession in the forward exchanges so a pacy backline, spearheaded by Wairarapa-Bush reps Jesse McGilvary and Nick Olson, can display their array of attacking skills.

Martinborough's tactics will be interesting. Will they play it safe and revolve most of their game around a pack led by the Hawkins boys, Jared and Josh, Wilba Davies, Tony Rowland and Adam Marshall or will they be prepared to give a backline, including proven attackers like Cody Whittaker, Phil Aporo and Nathan Hunt, the chance to consistently stretch their legs?

In summary, if ever there were two games where smart punters would keep their money in their pockets these would have to be it. About the only sure thing about them is there is no sure thing as far as the results are concerned.

A shortage of players has led to Bush Sports defaulting their Hodder Steffert Cup premier division plate semifinal match against Pioneer, which was to be played at the Jeans Street grounds tomorrow.