Pitman cleared to skipper side

Wanderers have dodged a major bullet with their key play-maker Jesse Pitman cleared to play in Saturday’s Car Company Nelson Bays division one rugby final.

The Taylor’s Contracting Wanderers captain faced the judiciary on Wednesday after he was yellow-carded for alleged verbal abuse of an assistant referee during his team’s 38-6 semifinal win over Star and Garter Waimea Old Boys last weekend.

However, Pitman incurred no further sanction and will take his place at fullback in Saturday’s Trafalgar Park clash against Wakatu Hotel Marist.

Relieved Wanderers head coach Sam Gibbens said that the team was obviously delighted to have one of the competition’s best attacking players available, Pitman having included a staggering 23 tries among the 136 points he’s scored this season.

‘‘He’s [been] one of our weapons from the back. On a dry ground, he loves to run the ball back and he’s been doing it so well this year,’’ Gibbens said.

The elusive Pitman’s just one of a number of threats confronting Marist although injuries and unavailability have meant a more fragmented season for top qualifiers Wanderers, including two losses to beaten semifinalists, Galbraith Group Nelson – one of them in the Tasman Trophy final.

Players have been slowly filtering back into the Wanderers lineup and were able to field their strongest side for several weeks in last Saturday’s semifinal. Flanker Steve Soper and midfielder Trael Joass are both back after lengthy injury breaks and while Wanderers still probably warrant the favourite’s tag, Gibbens remained wary of Marist’s chal- lenge. ‘‘I think it’ll be a tough gig for us. Marist are going to be physically strong and I think it’s going to be a good battle for us,’’ he said.

‘‘Last weekend was the first time we’ve had our full strength team and that was a big positive for us going into the final.

‘‘We’ve just got to play our cards right and hopefully our game plan and systems work out for us.’’ But while Wanderers’ attacking strengths were welldocumented, Marist loose forwards Te Puoho Stephens and Shannon Frizell, winger Adam Dunn and fullback Lote Saulekaleka were similarly disposed – a point not lost on Marist head coach Mike Fraser.

‘‘We’re not going to a gun-fight with a sword, that’s for sure,’’ Fraser said.

‘‘We’re not turning up to make up numbers. Obviously they’ve been a form team all year and they’ve got some real strike power right across the park.

‘‘I suppose if you’re a traditionalist, they’ve got to be the favourites, but I don’t tend to conform to tradition too much so we’ll have to see what happens on the day. ‘I think it’s going to be a good contest and what happens up front is going to be pretty important in this game.’’

A key part of Marist’s 15-14 semifinal win over Nelson was their uncompromising defence.

‘‘We’re just going to have to bring our A defensive game again, win some ball and look to attack them,’’ Fraser said.

‘‘If we turn up with the right mindset, we’re in with a shot. If we don’t, we’ll get punished, it’s as simple as that. We have to make our tackles and look to put pressure on them.’’

The division one decider will be preceded by the Tasman women’s final between Motueka High School and Marist at 1pm.