Quarter-finals a rugby innovation

The playoff format for this season's Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby competition, which kicks off on Saturday, has been extended to provide for quarter-final matches.
They will be played at the conclusion of one complete round of preliminary games and a seeding round which will see the nine teams involved in five more games.
Just how the draw for the latter will be organised is still a "work in progress" according to WBRFU chief executive officer Phil Taylor, as is the manner in which the quarter-finals will be drawn.
"Right now we are talking with the clubs over what they see as the best way to go and we should have everything confirmed within the next week or so," Taylor said.
Meanwhile, a quick check of the nine teams contesting the senior first division competition this season suggests that defending champions Gladstone are the logical favourites for a second successive title.
They have strength in depth in both the forwards and backs, something evidenced by the fact that no fewer than 16 of their players are part of the current Wairarapa-Bush training squad.
Saturday's draw has Gladstone playing last season's runners-up Marist at Gladstone, Puketoi playing Pioneer at Puketoi, Martinborough playing Carterton at Martinborough and East Coast meeting Greytown at Whareama..Eketahuna have the bye, necessitated by the withdrawal of Masterton Red Star.
A brief preview of the nine first division teams is ...
CARTERTON
Expect Carterton to be ultra-competitive in the loose forward department with the transfer of highly-regarded youngster Brock Price from Masterton Red Star adding to a list of proven talent such as Rueben Daysh, Patrick Cassidy, Brodie Duffin and Mike Wakefield.Wairarapa-Bush reps Joe Harwood in the front row and Tomasi Kedrabuka at lock are sure to shine for Carterton up front as well while one of the "finds" of the 2007 representative season, utility player Lance Stevenson, will spearhead a likely-looking backline including Justin Lett, Neil Rodger, Keiran Blake and Jono Hurley.
EAST COAST
A spate of injuries has East Coast on the back foot for early-season games with a shortage of middle rowers a particular concern. Former Wairarapa-Bush hooker Dion Mitchell will lead the side once he has recovered from his injury hassles and others expected to appear regularly in the pack are Kane Nooroa, Joe Feast, Ken Scott and an interesting arrival from Taupo in No.8 TK Karaitiana There will be no lack of pace in the backline with a couple of fliers in Nick Olson at fullback and Lima Lauvi on the wing, while the Aporo brothers, Zeb at halfback and Saan in midfield, should make their presence felt as well.
EKETAHUNA
To say Eketahuna is in a rebuilding phase is no exaggeration with a dozen of last year's squad no longer available,including Wairarapa-Bush reps Hamish McKenzie, Simanu Simanu and Josh Mackey. Providing the experience up front will be prop Brendon Walker, lock Dan Griffin and loosies Steve Olds and Sully Alsop.New Wairarapa-Bush rugby development officer Gareth Waldron will probably be at halfback with the reliable Jon Guillard in midfield and promising youngster Josh Harriman on the wing.
GLADSTONE
The defending champions have lost three of last year's backline in George Williams, Russell Thompson and Matt Easton but they will start warm favourites for a repeat success in 2008. There will be stern competition for starting places in the pack with Kurt Simmonds, Richard Puddy, Andrew McLean, John Stevenson, Steve Wilkinson, Mike Spence, Wills Clinton-Baker, and Tim Fleming all back on deck, while a major gain in the backs is Wairarapa-Bush midfielder Heemi Tupaea, who has transferred from Masterton Red Star. He will joined by James Bruce, Mike Shaw, Andrew Patrick, Baden Stevenson, Angus Crisp and a couple of promising youngsters in first-five Dean Grant and midfielder Jordan Watene.
GREYTOWN
The Isaac brothers, Tavita, Tapanga and Senoa, will be part of a Greytown backline which has the potential to develop into one of the best attacking units in the competition. At halfback will be Wairarapa-Bush rep Mike Hollis and Richard Tosswill, Nigel Phillips and a newcomer from Wellington in Johnny Avatea should all be good value too. Front rowers Brett Rudman and Daniel Groen and lock Norm Henricksen will be key figures in the pack where an interesting acquisition is Dean McLennan, who can play at lock or flanker.
MARIST
The absence of lofty locks Cory Reid and Mike Hughes, both of whom are overseas, has left Marist searching for ball winners at lineout time but they look well served in most other departments. Leading the way in the forwards will be front rowers Lee Paku and Blair Gardner and loosies Joe Nuku, Anthony Balks and
Rhys Severn. Old hands Paddy Rimene, Nathan Couch, Ben Couch, Phil Aporo and
Lawrence Matthews will ensure the backline is again a potent attacking force with a newcomer from Wellington in inside back Te Ari Mahuri and wing Jareth Fox expected to shine there as well.
MARTINBOROUGH
Martinborough will field a backline with plenty of pace and flair and they should be good entertainment value. Marcus Henson will be at halfback with Ryan Renata and Keiran Te Whare calling the shots in the five-eighths and speedsters Greg Wilson, Shane Ireland and Tommy Te Kani providing the punch out wide. Wairarapa-Bush flanker Jared Hawkins will be looking to create havoc in the loose and doing the hard yards up front will be front rowers Adam Marshall, Jeremy Sargent and Daniel George and lock Bodene Hawkins.
PIONEER
Pioneer will be expecting big things from a couple of players who shone at colts level last season, loose forward Lee Ewe and first-five Hoani Peacock.Club Player of the Year for 2008, Nathan Rolls, will be looking forward to combining with the equally strong-running Ewe in the loose and the solidity of front rowers Cliff Graham and Victor Thompson and lock Henare Te Whare should also be a big plus for their team. Providing the sparkle in the backs will be midfielders Jamie Smallman and Joe Papalii and Tommy Harmon's return from injury will be welcomed.
PUKETOI
Three wins from as many warm-up games has Puketoi in good shape for the start of the 2008 season.
Their pack will be typically rugged with Ewan Small leading the way from flanker, aided and abetted by the likes of Wairarapa-Bush lock Jared Bambry, prop Victor Marine, hooker Dave Robinson and No.8 Duncan Law, a recent acquisition from Pahiatua who is expected to press hard for representative selection. In the backs much will be expected from the inside combination of Lewis Small and Jason Liverton, midfielder Joe Hull and fullback Simon Finnie.