Lighweight Reynolds hauls big load for Kaierau | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Ephraim Reynolds would probably have sat on Kaierau's bench had his side not suffered so many injuries before Saturday's 50-22 Wanganui premier club rugby semi-final win over Taihape.

Such was his impact that coach Red Morris now admitted it would be  difficult to leave him out of this Saturday's final against Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist.

And it could be that when he packs down on the openside of the Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau scrum that at some stage - maybe even from the start - that he will be staring into the face of another youngster in Marist's Bradley Graham.

He was another who wasn't going to start against Ruapehu on Saturday but did, with a big effect on the game, eventually won 14-8 by Marist despite a torrid final Ruapehu quarter.

Between them the pair share the distinction of being "skinny' former Wanganui High School students who clearly play well above their weight.

No 7 specialist Reynolds is a Seventh day Adventist who has been in Australia for two years on a mission in Queensland, when he didn't play rugby, returning this season to Wanganui to live  just down the street from Kaierau.

"I felt like a game of football, walked up here and asked to be put in a team, and they threw me in this one," said Reynolds.

"They're a good bunch of guys, I've enjoyed it," said the 85kg flanker, who has  shown enough to have had a couple of runs for the Wanganui XV which played two matches with a Manawatu B.

He had quickly caught the eye of an old coach of his,  Guy Lennox, the Wanganui coach, who was Reynolds' old coach when he played for Border for a year before he went to Australia.

Now, about getting a start this week in the final?

"Yes, that would be good, I haven't played in a final in Wanganui."

And coach Morris, will he choose him?

"The way he played today, he'll be thereabouts."

Marist's Graham was a bench sitter from team naming at Thursday practice until coach Karl Hoskin rang him on Friday night to say he was playing because usual flanker, Chris Rayner, couldn't make it.

They're different kinds of players, but Hoskin used Graham's athletic ability and his "82kg wringing wet" frame as a potent lineout weapon. Placing him near the front of the Marist lineout, Graham was hoisted by two tall lifters in Andy Papworth and Chris O'Leary and grabbed several Ruapehu throws.

 Graham's description of his own job?

"I have a high workrate around the field and contest lineouts up the front.

"And because I'm so light they can throw me up a little bit higher."

Young Graham was also a consistent member of the unbending Marist defensive line when Ruapehu shackled the green and whites inside their own 22 in the final quarter, but couldn't break through.