Tight-clash likely in U-23s match

Wairarapa-Bush under-23s should be competitive in their match against the Japan Universities under-23 rugby side at Memorial Park, Masterton on Sunday.
Selector-coach of the union's premier side, Peter Russell, has been involved in the coaching of the Wairarapa-Bush side and while their preparation has been limited in terms of time he has been delighted with their application and enthusiasm.
"If anything they've trained too well", Russell quipped yesterday. "They've just clicked so quickly it's hard to believe they've really only had a couple of runs together."
Russell admits to knowing little about the Japan side, but inquiries suggest they won't lack anything on the score of size or mobility up front, and their backs have any amount of pace out wide.
A number of their players are apparently on the fringes of selection for the Japan A side, so they should be a formidable unit, to say the least.
According to Russell the Wairarapa-Bush game plan will be a relatively simple one with the emphasis being on doing the basics well.
"We do have a few innovations we'd like to try, but overall it will be all about winning our own set piece ball and retaining it for long periods," Russell said. "Controlling our own possession is the key."
Prop Joe Harwood will lead a Wairarapa-Bush pack which will contain four players who have played for the union at NPC level??..Harwood himself, fellow prop Dylan Higgison, blindside flanker Corey Reid and No.8 Sylvanus Iro.
And if early-season club form is anything to go by, the other four forwards in the starting line-up, hooker Ross Batty, locks Andrew McLean and Rangi Wolland and openside flanker Chris Senior, must be serious contenders for similar honours in 2006.
One suspects the speed and skill of their loose trio, Iro, Reid and Senior, will be one of Wairarapa-Bush's biggest attributes. They will relish any broken play situations, as all three are punishing runners with ball in hand.
Just one of the Wairarapa-Bush rearguard has had regular NPC experience, midfielder Tommy Harmon, and his influence should be marked on both attack and defence.
Halfback Mike Hollis is an exciting talent and he will have his Greytown-Tuhirangi clubmate Kingi Kaiwai outside him in what is an interesting selection, considering that Kaiwai is generally in midfield on the club scene.
The three-quarter line of Byron Karaitaina at centre and Nic Olsen and Tavita Isaac on the wings, are a speedy lot and the counter attacking skills of Duncan Rutherford at fullback should be a plus for Wairarapa-Bush as well.
Kick off is at 2pm and will follow a colts match between East Coast and Norths.
PREMIER DIVISION
The Andy Wichman Cup will be at stake when Masterton Red Star and Pioneer clash in a Wairarapa-Bush premier division club match at Memorial Park tomorrow.
Pioneer have the better record of the two teams so far this season and will start favourites, but Masterton Red Star have played well enough to suggest they will make a close game of it.Pioneer do seem to have more spark in their backs, so Stars will need to have the edge up front if they are to cause an upset.
Last season's beaten finalists Gladstone raised a few eyebrows with their win over previously unbeaten Carterton last weekend, and they should beat Martinborough despite the latter having home advantage.
Greytown-Tuhirangi are coming off the back of a narrow loss to Eketahuna, and should have too many guns for Puketoi at Pongaroa, while in the Billy Herbert Memorial match at Whareama Carterton will be favoured to edge out East Coast.