John Ika sets up good win for Wairarapa-Bush – Result : Farriers Wairarapa Bush 24 – 14 Poverty Bay
By WALT DICKSON
Wairarapa-Bush have locked away the Jeremy David Trophy for another year after beating Poverty Bay in Masterton tonight (Saturday).
In a tightly contested match the home team ran in three tries to two winning 24-14. They led 16-8 at the break.
The annual pre-season fixture was played under the new points system of six-points for a try.
There was a lot to be impressed about by Wairarapa-Bush who displayed good depth across their squad. Equally Poverty Bay showed plenty of endeavour and look to be a good prospect ahead of the Heartland Championship which kicks off on 27 August.
Prominent around the park was live-wire half-back John Ika. The Tasman recruit was in the thick of the action and proved a handful for the Poverty Bay defence.
Also making a big impact was lock Andrew Smith. The former Mid-Canterbury player and Gladstone club mate Andrew McLean were a formidable combination in the second row.
Wairarapa-Bush got the scoring underway in the 8th minute when No.8 Sam Gammie finished off some good work by Ika for the opening try.
Ika was back in the action a short time later when he cleaned up a loose ball after a break by full-back Tim Priest to scamper 30 metres for the second six-pointer. Priest converted both tries and it was 16-nil with less than a quarter of an hour gone.
But despite the early deficit the pendulum then swung Poverty Bay’s way. They grafted away upfront often creating overlaps for the men out-wide only for the ball to be lost. Just when it looked like Poverty Bay would not get any reward for all of their effort half-back Mario Counsell seized on a defensive error from the home team and set No.8 Ken Houkamau free to dive over next to the upright, on the stroke of half time.
Having been forced to defend for much of the first half Wairarapa-Bush cranked things up in the second enjoying the bulk of possession and territory. Andrew Smith finished off a strong period for the home with their third try early in the half.
It was not until the last play of the match that there was any more scoring when Poverty Bay first-five eighth broke the line and ran 70-metres to score.
Wairarapa-Bush play Wanganui away next weekend. Their first Heartland match is the following Saturday, at home to King Country.
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