Varsity 44 Bush 7 

Their are similarities in this season compared to last season. Varsity started poorly but are showing signs that they could be genuine title contenders. Where Varsity failed last year was their inability to play to the conditions when the ground got heavy.

Will this year be any different?

Well, in my opinion yes. The pack is a year older and appear to have learnt from their misgivings in 2008. Certainly the addition of Rob 'George' Foreman has given experience and pace to the tight five. What the pack have to do is learn to play wet weather football and dominate opposite packs. This was the achilles heal last year.

What was impressive about Saturdays comfortable win against a Bush side that lack pace outwide and where clearly not as fit as Varsity was that the win was so comfortable with the five NZU players. Coach Thompson now has the dilema of whether he reintroduces the famous five on Saturday against Feilding.

Against Bush, the pack hit the breakdown hard and had forwards hitting the defence line at pace. Blind side Flanker Stevenson was highly impressive, as was Cameron Craine who is looking much fitter than he did twelve months ago. Craine was rewarded with a brace of tries.

The other stand out for me was Max Pearson on the wing. Pearson is playing his best rugby for the club and now has strength to match his speed and the way he ran over the defence for one of his tries was very impressive. Is there a better winger in the Manawatu at the moment?

This week Varsity travel to a place I hated playing at, Johnstone Park to play a Yellows side that they must feel that they should win.