The top players of Tasman Tanning Premier rugby will be very eager to see the back of June as they drag themselves out tomorrow for the last game with only a 72 hour break since their previous effort.
After taking three straight hammerings in Steelform Wanganui colours against professional squads during the week days, on top of their weekend club rugby in a tightly compacted Top 5, from the strongest teams it is McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu who have to shoulder the hardest burden, coming into their home clash with PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape.
Competition leaders Waverley Harvesting Border and their six players who challenged for the Ranfurly Shield get a welcome break with their bye weekend tomorrow, having built up an eight point buffer on top of the table.
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist had five players involved in the Wednesday game, four in the starting lineup, but they had the bye last Saturday to ease the accumulation of bumps and bruises, and will hardly be required to risk life and limb against winless Harvey Round Motors Ratana in the Pa.
So that leaves Ruapehu, third on the table, with five players backing up from Wednesday, having to race a resurgent Taihape, currently in second place with only one player - Dane Whale - pulling double duty.