Semis showdown!

Four teams with very different strengths will contest the semi-finals of the Wairarapa-Bush premier division rugby competition on Saturday with past results suggesting favouritism should be evenly spread in both games.
The evenness of the protagonists was well illustrated by the points table at the end of the two preliminary rounds with Gladstone in front on 48pts, followed by Carterton 47, Pioneer 46 and Eketahuna 42.
That left top seeds Gladstone playing fourth seeds Eketahuna at Gladstone in one-semi-final with second seeds Carterton at home to third seeds Pioneer in the other.
Gladstone can fairly lay claim to being the most balanced team in the premier division series in that their strengths are evenly distributed between backs and forwards
Eketahuna have experience on their side in that they have contested, and won, the last three grand finals while Carterton are clearly the strongest side up front with no fewer than five Wairarapa-Bush reps in their pack.
And there is Pioneer who probably have the edge on the other three sides for sheer passion and enthusiasm, plus natural attacking flair.
Results of previous games this season don't help much, if at all,in deciding just who will take the honours this weekend.
The first time Carterton met Pioneer they won 17-11 after racing out to a 17-0 lead by halftime but Pioneer bounced back to win their second clash 12-6, scoring the only two tries of the game in the process.
It's a similar story with Gladstone and Eketahuna. Their first encounter saw Eketahuna win 21-10 after leading 21-0 at the break while in the second game it was Gladstone who called the tune, winning 16-11.
Carterton coach Steve Hurley agrees his team's best chance of lowering Pioneer's colours on Saturday are to dominate the forward exchanges so as to nullify their ability to create tries out of practically nothing
"They (Pioneer) don't worry too much about the clock or the scoreline??.when the chance is there to move the ball they are prepared to do it,"he said. "They thrive on broken play situations so it's important we keep those to a minimum".
Pioneer coach Tipi Rimene knows the dangers posed by Carterton's "big timber" up front but believes his own forwards are capable of holding their own in the muscle department.
"Every team we've played has looked to take us on there but our boys have always responded well to the challenge and I'm sure they will again," he said.
"The tight five are going to be the key to this one, if we can do the business there we will be ok."
Possible starting line-ups are:-
Carterton: Jono Hurley; Jason Brown, James Matthews, Lance Stevenson, Damon Searle; Nathan Sanson; Jason Scott; Brodie Duffin; Reuben Daysh, Langi Peters, Tomasi Kedarabuka, Andew Compain; Bert Buckle, Joe Harwood, Jeremy Sargent.
Pioneer: Rex Rimene; Jordan Fox, Stu Waipuka, Russell Thompson, Tommy Harmon; Richard Carroll; Tipi Rimene; Nathan Rolls; Joe Papalii, Isaac Rolls, Dave ewe, Mike Harmon; Anton Kainuku,Erurewa Henare, Ra Deans.
Gladstone coach Steve Thompson expects Eketahuna to take his team on up front as they did in their first match this season with Eketahuna having a clear edge there on that occasion.
"I think it's fair to say we learnt some valuable lessons that day and will be better prepared for what they throw at us this time," he said.
"But then again they are a side which knows what finals rugby is all about and we know it's going to be tough to beat them."
Eketahuna coach Dave Smith admits his side haven't been quite as consistent as they would like this season but is confident that now the semis have arrived they will be ready to met any challenge.
He does though have huge respect for Gladstone, saying they were a team with enough quality in the backs and forwards to test any of the other premier division sides.
Possible starting line-ups are:-
Gladstone: Matt Easton; Scott McKenzie, Duncan Rutherford, Mike Shaw, Jimmy Logue; Ngatai Walker; James Bruce or Charlie Bargh; Mike Spence; Steve Wilkinson, Andrew McLean, William Clinton-Baker, Sam Henderson; Beven Moreland, Ross Batty, Darren Walker.
Eketahuna: Simanu Simanu; Joji Tamani, Adam Fisher, John Guillard, Johnny Harris; Darren Yates; Hamish McKenzie; Steve Olds; Solly Alsop, Peter Bond, Josh Mackley, Luke Mahoney; Angus McMillan, Matthew Fox, Brendan Walker.
The semi-finals will be controlled by the two most impressive referees in the Wairarapa-Bush region this season.
Andrew Stringer will have the whistle at Gladstone and Graeme Reisima at Carterton.
The full draw for Saturday is:-
Premier division B: East Coast v Puketoi, Whareama at 2.30pm (G.Hall; M.Brown and D.Hands); Martinborough v Masterton Red Star, Martinborough at 2.30pm (D.Goodin).
President's grade: East Coast v Gladstone, Whareama at 1pm (M.Brown); Eketahuna v Greytown-Tuhirangi, Eketahuna at 2pm (N.Burt).
First XV: Wairarapa College v Feilding Agricultural, Wairarapa College at 1pm (T.Roseingrave); Rathkeale College v Davvevirke High, Rathkeale at 1 pm (G.Moorcock).
Under-15: Wairarapa College v Dannevirke High, Wairarapa College at 10.30am (C.Jefferies).
Open grade college: Wairarapa College 3 v Rathkeale 2, Wairarapa College at 10.30am (B.King); Makoura v Wairarapa Grassroots, Makoura at 10.30am (D.Hands); Chanel v Kuranui, Chanel at 10.30am (D.Watts); Rathkeale colts a bye.
Junior grade college: Rathkeale A v Wairarapa College Gold, Rathkeale 4 at 9.30am (B>Whale); Kuranui v Wairarapa Blue, Kuranui at 9.30am (K.Lyford); Wairarapa Black v Chanel, Wairarapa College 3 at 9.30am (no referee); Makoura College a bye.