Rugby referees agree to officiate

The Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Referees Association has appointed referees to control matches at the Jeans Street grounds in Masterton on Saturday.

Spokesman Peter Debney said the change of heart, after an earlier decision had been made not to appoint officials for Jeans Street games because of safety concerns, was prompted by a communication sent to all clubs by the WBRFU council of clubs.

"They have made it very clear to clubs that certain expectations need to be met when they are hosting games and we are happy with that," Debney said. "We all need to move forward for the good of Wairarapa-Bush rugby, and trust what has happened in the past won't occur again."

Scott Andrew and Shay O'Gorman have been appointed to referee the Tui Cup premier division semifinals on Saturday. Andrew will blow the whistle in the Greytown v Gladstone match at Greytown while O'Gorman will do likewise in the Martinborough v East Coast fixture at Martinborough.

The full draw for Saturday is:

Tui Cup premier division semifinals: Greytown v Gladstone, Greytown at 2.30pm (S. Andrew; G. Hall and W. Jeffries); Martinborough v East Coast, Martinborough at 2.30pm (S. O'Gorman; G. Reisima and D. Whitcombe).

Hodder Steffert Cup premier division plate semifinals: Pioneer v Bush Sports, Jeans Street at 2.30pm (T. Roseingrave; V. Peterson and B. Wills); Eketahuna v Carterton, Eketahuna at 2.30pm (A. Payne; P. Weeks and K. Lochhead).

Shannahan Cup senior second semifinals: Rams v Marist, Memorial Park at 2.30pm (C. Jefferies; P. Thompson and B. Stewart); Tuhirangi v Puketoi, Pirinoa at 2.30pm (D. Goodin).

Ryan Cup senior thirds: Rams v Bush Sports, Memorial Park No 1 at 1pm (P. Thompson; G. McKeown and home team); Gladmarist v East Coast, Memorial Park No 3 at noon (V. Peterson); Carterton v Eketahuna, Carterton at 1pm (W. Jeffries); Greytown a bye.

Manawatu colts semifinal: Ruamahanga v College Old Boys, Memorial Park 2 at 1pm (B. Stewart).

Secondary schools - Premier: Kuranui firsts v Rongotai thirds, Greytown at 1pm (G. Hall). Open grade: Rathkeale seconds v Makoura firsts, Rathkeale, at 11.15am (K. Lochhead); Wairarapa seconds v Combined Colleges, Wairarapa College at 11.15am (P. Weeks). Junior: Rathkeale White v Wairarapa Blue, Rathkeale No 3 at 10am (Rathkeale tutor); Wairarapa Gold v Makoura, Wairarapa College No 4 at 10am (B. Whale); Chanel v Rathkeale Green, Chanel at 10am (V. Peterson); Kuranui a bye.

JAB under-13: Carterton v Eke-Marist, Carterton at 10.30am (G. McKeown).

The Rathkeale College firsts and under-15 teams will play their Lindisfarne counterparts at Rathkeale next Tuesday. Wayne Jeffries will control the under-15s match starting at 11.15am Scott Andrew the firsts starting at 1.15pm.