Season on the line for Kapene hopefuls

Martinborough and East Coast will provide the feature attraction in the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's premier division competition tomorrow.

The result of their clash at Martinborough will virtually decide which of them stays in the reckoning for the Kapene Cup series, currently led by Pioneer, and which of them joins the also-rans.

Martinborough have some useful attacking talent in their backs but it would be no surprise if coach James Bruce places the emphasis on forward domination with the intent of nullifying the influence of the classy East Coast rearguard.

There won't be a lot in it but the home advantage might just be enough to give Martinborough the edge.

Bush Sports suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Martinborough last weekend and they will be keen to put that behind them with a convincing win over neighbours Eketahuna at Pahiatua. Eketahuna will give them plenty up front but Bush Sports' flair should be the deciding factor.

Marist are at the bottom of the table but still have a chance of success at Memorial Park No2 over a Greytown team making steady progress under new coach Ritchie Robertson.

It is old-timers' day for Marist who will be competitive in the forwards, but whether their backs can match their Greytown opponents is debatable.

Carterton will be at home to the Rams and should record a comfortable win, while in the other game it is hard to see Pioneer being tested by Puketoi at Jeans Street.

The full club draw for tomorrow is:-

Premier division: Bush Sports v Eketahuna, Pahiatua at 2.30pm (S. O'Gorman; G. Hall and B. Wills); Marist v Greytown, Memorial Park No2 at 2.30pm (A. Payne; W. Jeffries and K. Lochhead); Pioneer v Puketoi, Jeans Street at 2.30pm (S. Andrew; G. Moorcock and P. Thompson); Carterton v Rams, Carterton at 2.30pm (T. Roseingrave; G. Reisima and home team); Martinborough v East Coast, Martinborough at 2.30pm (C. Jefferies; D. Goodin and home team); Gladstone - bye.

Senior reserves: Bush Sports v Eketahuna, Pioneer at 1pm (G. Hall); Gladmarist v Greytown, Memorial Park 2 at 1pm (W. Jeffries); Pioneer v Tuhirangi, Jeans Street at 1pm (P. Thompson); Carterton v Rams, Carterton at 1pm (G. Reisima); Martinborough v East Coast, Martinborough at 1pm (D. Goodin).

Manawatu colts: Ruamahanga v Freyberg, Memorial Park No1 at 1pm (B. Stewart).

Secondary school. First XV premier: Rathkeale firsts v St John's firsts, Rathkeale College at noon (G. Moorcock). Manawatu under-15: Wairarapa v PNBHS Hurricanes, Wairarapa College at 9.50am (P. Weeks). Open grade: Makoura firsts v Wairarapa seconds, Makoura at 11.15am (A. Stringer); Wairarapa thirds v Rathkeale seconds, Wairarapa College at 11.15am (K. Lochhead); Chanel - bye. Junior: Kuranui v Makoura, Kuranui at 10am (B. Whale). JAB under-13: Carterton v Greytown, Carterton at 10am (G. McKeown).