Too close to call!

In what has to be the most even title chase in years - possibly ever - no-one could predict with any certainty the outcome of the Gladstone v Eketahuna match at Gladstone or the Carterton v Pioneer encounter at Carterton tomorrow.
In each instance the combatants have already played each other twice this season with a different result being produced in each case.
Eketahuna's forwards paved the way for their first up 21-10 win over Gladstone but their second clash saw Gladstone deservedly claim the honours by 16-11.
Carterton was ahead 17-0 over Pioneer in their first game before winning 17-11 and then Pioneer scored the only two tries of the game in winning the second game, 12-6.
The fact they finished the two preliminary rounds at the top of the points table means Gladstone go into their semi with Eketahuna as the top seeds but that won't matter a toss to the latter who have won the championship for the last three years, and have made a habit of producing their best form in the important games.
Now that the Bush side have made it through to the top four it will be very much business as usual and Gladstone will need to right on their mettle if they are to stop them from progressing on to yet another grand final appearance.
It's safe to assume that Eketahuna's game plan will revolve heavily around forward domination and they will be backing their tight five, in particular, to control the crucial ball-winning areas of lineout and scrum.
It's a challenge which rugged individuals like Angus McMillan, Matthew Cox, Brendan Walker, Peter Bond and Josh Mackley will relish but whether they are capable of bettering their Gladstone counterparts Beven Moreland, Ross Batty, Darren Walker, Andrew Mclean and William Clinton-Baker to the required extent is open to debate.
Whatever, there will be no lack of physical endeavour from the ":grunt and shunt" brigade.
Considering they have two rep players, Mike Spence and Sam Henderson, along with the ever-reliable Steve Wilkinson, in their loose forwards you'd expect Gladstone to perhaps have the edge in that department but here again appearances could be deceiving.
After all, in No.8 Steve Olds Eketahuna have one of the more punishing runners in the competition and flankers Luke Mahoney and Solly Alsop are consistency plus. Indeed the hard-working Mahoney would have to be one of the most under-rated loosies around.
Gladstone's backline action will revolve around rep players, halfback James Bruce and midfielders Mike Shaw and Duncan Rutherford, with the latter two, especially, likely to play a leading role should they decide that attacking Eketahuna through their backs is the way to go.
Eketahuna has one of the best playmakers in the premier division in Hamish McKenzie at halfback and the very best counter attacker in Simanu Simanu at fullback and they will want to make full use of their particular strengths.
McKenzie can though expect to have his gritty Gladstone opposite Bruce breathing down his neck all day with the prize of a starting spot in the Wairarapa-Bush side for forthcoming NPC first division games perhaps being decided by their individual efforts in this game.
So even are these two sides that a smart punter would simply keep his money in his pocket and sit on the fence but for the sake of argument we'll plump for Eketahuna's proven ability to rise to the occasion in the big games putting their noses in front.
The tactics to be utilised by Carterton and Pioneer in their semi-final match at Carterton seem clearly defined.
Even a cursory look at the possible starting XVs and you come to the conclusion that for Carterton to win they have to control the forward battle and, conversely, for Pioneer to succeed they have to secure enough quality ball to give their backs a fair shot at utilising their flair and inventiveness.
Carterton certainly have the "name" players in the forwards to make the running there.
Front rowers Bert Buckle and Joe Harwood, locks Langi Peters and Tomasi Kedarabuka and loosies Andrew Compain and Brodie Duffin have all been in the Wairarapa-Bush squad this season and between them they provide plenty of firepower in both the tighter and looser aspects of the forward game.
It would be folly though to under-rate the Pioneer pack who in game after game this season have stood up and been counted and who in their most recent clash with Carterton took very few steps backwards in the forward exchanges.
In the mercurial Nathan Rolls they have a No.8 with excellent attacking skills and while Dave Ewe and Anton Kainuku have been around the club scene for a good while now they still live by the old adage, when the going gets tough the tough get going.
They are superb role models for up-and-comers like hooker Porky Henare and prop Ra Deans.
Carterton's backs seem sure to concentrate on keeping the ball close to their forwards with first-five Nathan Sanson the key there.
One cannot overlook though the promise of Lance Stevenson as a midfield back with try scoring propensities and the soundness of Jono Hurley at fullback, a player who has also been making his mark as an accurate goal kicker.
The Pioneer rearguard has experience to burn in the form of Tipi Rimene, Richard Carroll and Russell Thompson in the inside backs and two of the most potent attackers in premier division play, Tommy Harmon and Jordan Fox out wider.
Even on a heavy surface they seem certain to place the emphasis on attack and with backs of their calibre every inch given could be a mile taken.
Here too then selecting a likely winner is a risky business if possession is, as they say, nine-tenths of the law then perhaps Carterton's forward power might just give them the winning edge.