Pioneer v Marist epic looms

Pioneer and Marist have had some titanic struggles in Wairarapa-Bush club rugby over the years and tomorrow's Kapene Cup premier division match at the Park Sportsground in Masterton should be no different.
Both teams go into this fixture having lost just the one game to date, although the points table paints a deceiving picture, with Pioneer sitting at the top on 25 and Marist holding down third place with 16.
Accounting for part of that nine-point separation is that Pioneer have played six matches and Marist five, and whereas Marist have yet to earn a bonus point, Pioneer have picked up five, mostly for scoring four or more tries. Pioneer's attacking capabilities have effectively earned them an extra win.
It is through the pace and flair of their backs, allied with the mobility of their loose forwards, notably Lee Ewe and Mike Harmon, that Pioneer will look to dominate a Marist side which, by contrast, will probably be depending more on the physicality of their pack to call the tune.
Marist's forwards are often under-rated but in the likes of Ben Couch, Rhys Severn, Terry Norman, Leuma Wilson, Corey Reid and James Goodger they have a group of rugged campaigners who don't mind scrapping for possession.
The problem for Marist will be how to cope with the playmaking skills of impressive Pioneer first-five Tipi Haira, as well as the thrust of Tommy Harmon in midfield and the pace of Charlie Brown and Joe Dahlberg-Paku on the wings. Given a reasonable share of quality ball they are all potential match-winners, none more so than Brown, who is arguably the most dynamic attacker on the local club scene.
Pioneer are also sure to have the strong vocal support of a big crowd at their Jean St headquarters so, all things considered, they deserve to start favourites.
Little heed should be taken of their hefty defeat at the hands of Pioneer last weekend when assessing Masterton Red Star's prospects against Featherston at Memorial Park tomorrow. With six or seven regulars missing from their line-up, Masterton Red Star were always going to be on a hiding to nothing, and so it proved. They will be much more competitive here but, at the same time, will need to be wary of a Featherston side who have been shaping up well enough to suggest an upset is by no means out of the question. Look for a battle royal for the loose ball, with two of the best flankers in the region - Tommy Sargent (Featherston) and Chris Senior (Masterton Red Star) - probably going head to head.
Eketahuna might be only fourth on the points table, 11 behind Pioneer, but the vagaries of a competition which started with a bye then had Puketoi pull out means they have played only four counting games, three of which they have won. They take on Carterton at Carterton tomorrow and maximum points would keep them in the hunt for the Kapene Cup, which goes to the leading team at the end of one complete round of matches. Carterton are yet to hit top form, as shown by their two wins in five games, but have a squad talented enough to push Eketahuna all the way. Goal-kicking could decide this one.
Gladstone are at home to Martinborough for a match which should provide some entertaining fare, as both teams are certain to have a positive mindset. Gladstone have had just the four counting games, so even though they are sitting on 12 points they are still a hope for the Kapene Cup, providing they get on a winning streak.
The flair of their backs could be the deciding factor tomorrow, although it would be dangerous to underrate Martinborough, who often seem to play their best rugby when the opposition is running the ball at them.