We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2020 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

An injury problem and the loss of key players from the 1982 side accounted to some extent for the comparatively poor record of Wairarapa-Bush in 1983.

Four wins out of 14 games is not very impressive but the team managed to avoid the promotion-relegation round, thus being assured of First Division status for another season at least.

The highlight of 1983 was a good win over Waikato with the low point a crushing defeat at the hands of Second Division side Marlborough. There were also poor performances against Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington and the touring Lions.

The Wairarapa-Bush forwards gave a good account of themselves in most games, being especially good at mauling and in general play around the field. They scrummed well too, but lack of technique in the lineouts limited the team’s possession.

The 1979 All Black, Mike McCool, again made a valuable contribution in the tight work, where he was ably supported by Bill Rowlands and Gary McGlashan. These three veterans announced their retirement at the end of the season and all will be hard to replace. Maori All Black Chris Kapene was another hard toiler. Flanker Brett Harvey, in his first year of first class rugby, showed a great deal of promise.

Halfback Graeme Anderson captained the team well, proving solid and dependable, with new first five-eighth Mark Benton in good attacking form. Charlie Kaka’s experience was valuable in midfield.

Kapene and Kaka played in the All Black trial and Kapene appeared for New Zealand Maoris in the first game against Tonga.

WAIRARAPA-BUSH MATCH RECORD 1983 MATCH RECORD
Played 14, Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 9
Points: For 166, Against 316

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1983 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
003		William Nepia ‘Bill’ Rowlands	Prop	Red Star	10
022		Gary Keith McGlashan	Hooker	Red Star	10
045		Nigel Peter Sargent	Prop	Featherston	7
064		Neil Francis Kjestrup	First Five, Fullback	Gladstone	13
067		Michael Edward Cornford	Winger	Masterton	11
079		Kevin Wayne Carter	First Five	Woodville	13
108		Bruce Colin Stuart	Scrumhalf	Tirumea	1
116		Michael John McCool	Lock	Pongaroa United	10
117		Graeme Wighton ’Bunter’ Anderson	Scrumhalf	Eketahuna	14
123		Christopher Rangi ‘Moose’ Kapene	Lock, Prop	Martinborough	10
131		Joseph George ‘Joe’ Wyeth	Flanker	Masterton	8
138		Carl Duan ’Carlos’ Baker	No. 8	Martinborough	9
142		Gregory Ian Karaitiana	Winger	Masterton	13
143		Charles Huru Aporo Kaka	Centre	Martinborough	6
144		Phillip D. Rutene	First Five, Winger	Masterton	4
145		Garry Maurice ‘Jack’ Cotter	Centre	Carterton	7
148		Gary Ian Rolston	Lock	Eketahuna	6
150		Stephen J. Hurley	Centre, Fullback	Carterton	7
151		David Alexander White	Lock	Gladstone	14
152		Brett Andrew Harvey	Flanker	Tirumea	14
153		Peter Lawson	Flanker, Hooker	Tuhirangi	5
154		Thomas Henry ‘Tom’ Hullena	No. 8	Red Star	10
155		Mark Frederick Clive Benton	First Five, Fullback	Featherston	10
156		Brent Leslie Anderson	Lock	Masterton	2
157		Michael Bradley	Prop	Marist	2
158		Bryan Edward Styles	Prop	Gladstone	2
159		Gregory Ross Gray	Centre, First Five	Marist	1
160		Michael Craig O’Connor	Winger	Marist	1