Pioneer win even if they draw but Bush still cling to hope

Pioneer have established a clear lead in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's Kapene Cup premier division competition but have not yet nailed it.

They are sitting on 43 points, 13 in front of nearest rivals Bush Sports, East Coast and Martinborough.

Of those three sides, only Bush Sports are in a position from where they could still overhaul Pioneer and they very much have their destiny in their own hands.

For them the target is simple - beat Puketoi in a deferred game which is to be played this week, down Pioneer on June 2 and roll East Coast in the final series of Kapene Cup games on June 9, and providing they pick up at least two bonus points for four or more tries along the way they will be home and hosed.

For Pioneer, of course, everything depends on the result of the Queen's Birthday clash with Bush Sports, with that their last appearance of the Kapene Cup round because they have the bye on June 9. Win, or even draw, and the trophy will be theirs.

The fact they will be playing Bush Sports on their home ground at Jeans St will be a huge assist for Pioneer for they are guaranteed to have a big and vocal crowd of supporters cheering their every move.

At the other end of the points table, the pressure is still on several teams aiming to secure enough competition points from the final two series of Kapene Cup matches to avoid relegation from the main premier division competition, the Tui Cup.

Three teams will eventually suffer that fate, with Marist certain to be one of them and the Rams needing a near miracle not to join them. Puketoi also have a battle on their hands to haul themselves out of the danger zone, and Eketahuna and Greytown could have some nervous times ahead as well.

Last year's Tui Cup finalists, Gladstone and Carterton, are not totally out of the woods, either, although the odds of survival are clearly in their favour.

Kapene Cup points are: Pioneer 43, Bush Sports 30, East Coast 30, Martinborough 30, Carterton 20, Gladstone 19, Greytown 15, Eketahuna 13, Puketoi 11, Rams 7 and Marist 2. Pioneer have played nine matches and all the others eight, except for Bush Sports, who have had seven games.

No premier division matches are being played this Saturday because of the clash with the Wairarapa-Bush v Horowhenua-Kapiti game at Westpac Stadium.

The draw for June 2 is (home teams first): Greytown v Gladstone, Carterton v Marist, Eketahuna v East Coast, Rams v Martinborough and Pioneer v Bush Sports.