Time nearly up for Carterton

Finals footy starts early for Carterton in Tui Cup rugby this weekend.

Fifth on the table, the maroons need to beat Marist – with a four-try bonus point – to have any chance of sneaking into the top-four semi-finals.

But it won’t be just Marist standing in their way, with Pioneer also in the hunt for the last play-off spot. Pioneer has a four point jump on Carterton, however take on top of the table Gladstone at Jean Street. Greytown and Martinborough have already safely secured their passage through to the semi-finals, on Saturday 22 July.

Even against an under-performing Marist, Carterton will need to be much more clinical if they are to bank the five points on offer. If there is one criticism of Carterton this season it would be that they have “left a lot of points out there”.

It has been a point of frustration for rookie senior-A coach Chris Senior, with his side firing few shorts in 2017, despite showing at times that they have the makings of a championship winning team.

“We’ve had some brilliant patches, but we haven’t been able to put together a good performance for a whole game,” Senior says.

Against Greytown last weekend, Carterton dominated the first half but lacked the finished required to get them over the try line.

A series of injuries to some key backs has not helped their cause, but there will be no excuses come Saturday.

With a forward pack as good as any in the competition, it is a sure bet Carterton will dominate Marist upfront on the artificial turf at Memorial Park. How they use this advantage will be crucial.

Look for big games from half-back Daryl Pickering and full-back Corey McFadzean. Both will be smarting after missing out on selection in the Farriers Wairarapa-Bush Heartland squad.
“Corey, for sure, will be looking to answer the critics after missing out, so it will be good for him to hit back,” Senior says.

Likewise, with his “beautiful pace” and speed around the field, Pickering was also unlucky to not find his name on Joe Harwood’s 30-man squad, according to senior.
Versatile player Utah Walker will also need to fire.

Countering them will be a pretty slick Marist back-line which has the potential to score from anywhere on the park.

“We will need to starve their backs of ball, for sure.”

The last time these two sides meet, Carterton won 18-5.

Meanwhile, Pioneer face a daunting prospect against fancied Gladstone, despite the home advantage. If they do manage to pull it off, it will be game-on again the following week, this time in Gladdy’s mud.

Other matches on Saturday see Eketahuna host Martinborough, while defending champions play East Coast at Whareama.