Newcomers likely to get chance against Varsities

Several new faces seem sure to be part of the starting line-up when Wairarapa-Bush meet New Zealand Universities in a rugby "friendly" at Memorial Park, Masterton, tomorrow.

Organised at relatively late notice to provide Universities with a warm-up match before they play Japan later in the week, the game does not have first-class status and both sides are likely to field extended squads as a consequence.

Wairarapa-Bush head coach Mark Rutene and his assistant Paddy Gough were waiting until after yesterday morning's training session to name their starting XV but, barring injury, the likelihood is that up to seven players who were not part of the Heartland championship squad last year will be there.

Up front, the prospects are that in-form Martinborough hooker Adam Marshall will join regulars Kurt Simmonds (Greytown) and Wilba Davies (Martinborough) in the front row and that another newcomer in Lachie McFadzean (Carterton) will be at lock alongside Gladstone's Andrew McLean.

Two of the big finds from the 2011 Heartland campaign in James Goodger (Marist) and Johan Van Vliet (Eketahuna) are likely to be on the flanks ,with Wellington "import" Taylor Mokate debuting at No8.

East Coast's Matt O'Connor appears to have the inside running for the halfback berth and the same goes for Tipene Haira (Pioneer) at first-five, one of the stars of the club scene so far this season.

At second-five could be another of the Wellington-based recruits in Titapu Pairama-Lewington, with Jesse McGilvary (East Coast) at centre, and a trio of newcomers could make up the back three - Cameron Hayton (Gladstone) and Kieran te Whare (Martinborough) on the wings and Guy Wood (Gladstone) at fullback.

It would be no surprise to see Wairarapa-Bush have at least 10 players on their reserve bench, all of whom will be given ample opportunity to impress Rutene and Gough as they continue preparations for the first of their "official" matches in 2012, a non-championship game with fellow Heartland contenders Horowhenua-Kapiti.

That will be played at the Cake Tin late next month as a curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes v Rebels Super 15 fixture.

Meanwhile, the premier division club match played at Memorial Park on Saturday between Marist and Rams was a no-try affair, with each side managing just the two penalties in a 6-6 draw.

Pioneer and Martinborough retained their unbeaten records, Pioneer with a 55-16 blitzing of Carterton and Martinborough with a 23-5 victory over Greytown.

East Coast kept in touch of the competition leaders with a 28-19 defeat of Gladstone while the game between unbeaten Bush Sports and Puketoi at Pongaroa was postponed as a mark of respect for Puketoi midfielder Eroni Ravaga-Gaunavou, who went missing, presumed drowned, at Akitio Beach on Easter Monday.

Detailed report of Pioneer v Carterton - page 32

Scoring details from Saturday were:

Marist 6 (J Goodger 2 penalties), Rams 6 (M Henderson 2 penalties).

Pioneer 55 (N Ewe 2, T Harmon 2, D Kamo-Paku 2, E Henare and H Peacock tries; N Rolls 1 conversion, T.Haira 2 conversions and 3 penalties); Carterton 16 (J Leutumailaei try; D Brown 3 penalties and 1 conversion).

East Coast 28 (K Nooroa, L Titter, M O'Connor, N Olson tries; B Karaitiana 2 penalties, Z Aporo 1 conversion), Gladstone 19 (C Hayton, A McKay tries; G Wood 3 penalties).

Martinborough 23 (J Hawkins, N Hunt, Q Larkin tries; K te Whare 1 penalty and 1 conversion, Q Larkin dropped goal), Greytown 5 (R Hardman try).