Match Center

Wairarapa-Bush RU

Horowhenua-Kapiti

32

Wairarapa-Bush RU

06
Pre Season May 5, 2018 @ 5:05 pm Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Wairarapa-Bush No 8 Christopher Raymond claiming a lineout in Saturday’s game. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV

RUGBY –  JAKE BELESKI https://times-age.co.nz/

The scoreline may not have reflected it, but there were plenty of positives for Wairarapa-Bush to build on after their 6-32 loss to Horowhenua-Kapiti in a pre-season clash in Wellington on Saturday.

The match for the PGG Wrightson Trophy was played as a curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes match against the Lions, and in typical Wellington fashion a strong wind made playing conditions difficult for both teams.

Wairarapa-Bush hooker James Pakoti on the burst. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV

The final quarter was one-way traffic as Horowhenua-Kapiti – runners-up in last year’s Heartland Championship – finished the stronger of the two sides, but the first half provided a solid foundation for Wairarapa-Bush to work with moving forward.

Horowhenua-Kapiti had the better of the opening exchanges, and first five-eighth Leon Ellison crashed over from close range to open the scoring after five minutes.

Wairarapa-Bush looked the team most likely to score throughout the rest of the first half, but errors at crucial times ensured they never managed to cross the line.

Centre Nicholas Mason was a threat every time he touched the ball, but was also guilty of not passing to unmarked supporting players on two occasions which would almost certainly have resulted in tries.

Two penalties to winger Moo Moo Falaniko closed the gap to 7-6, but Wairarapa-Bush would have been disappointed to not capitalize on the numerous chances created on attack.

Wairarapa-Bush looked dangerous when they managed to put phases together, with captain Cyrus Baker and vice-captain Sam Gammie leading from the front and making several strong charges between them.

A penalty to Horowhenua-Kapiti on the stroke of halftime gave them a 10-6 lead heading into the break and was a testament to their tenacious defensive effort.

Wairarapa-Bush would have been hoping for a solid start to the second half, but they got the opposite as Horowhenua-Kapiti lock Ryan Shelford barged his way over in the 42nd minute to quickly extend their advantage to 17-6.

The swirling breeze made it difficult for either team to use their kicking game as an attacking weapon and resulted in a long period of play in which neither team looked likely to score.

The wheels fell off for Wairarapa-Bush in the final quarter, however, as Horowhenua-Kapiti clicked into gear and ran in a further three tries to blow out the final score.

Wairarapa-Bush showed plenty of enterprise on attack and looked solid in defence for the most part, but will need to make more of their opportunities if they are to compete with the top sides in the competition when the Heartland championship starts in August.

Their next assignment will be another pre-season match against Hawke’s Bay on June 4.

Horowhenua-Kapiti 32 - 06 Wairarapa-Bush RU

  • Saturday 5 May 2018 @ 5:05 pm
  • Pre Season 
  • Westpac Stadium, Wellington
37
Played
19
Won
0
Drawn
18
Lost

Previous meetings

20 Jul 97 2:30 pm Pre-Season Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 33 - 12
27 May 98 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 38 - 30
28 Aug 99 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 10 - 26
30 Sep 00 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 07 - 24
06 Oct 01 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 00 - 31
07 Sep 02 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 20 - 22
13 Sep 03 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 34 - 12
28 Aug 04 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 35 - 18
27 Aug 05 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 50 - 03
15 Oct 05 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC - Final Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 28 - 23
23 Sep 06 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 31 - 11
08 Sep 07 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 18 - 12
13 Sep 08 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 31 - 36
18 Oct 08 2:30 pm Heartland Championship-S/F Lochore Cup Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 37 - 17
22 Aug 09 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 - 21
19 Sep 09 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 13 - 12
09 Oct 10 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 31 - 17
17 Sep 11 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 47 - 10
26 May 12 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 29 - 18
18 Aug 12 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 51 - 17
13 Oct 12 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 05 - 31
17 Aug 13 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 34 - 19
14 Sep 13 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 22 - 15
20 Sep 14 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 12 - 09
26 Sep 15 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 33 - 19
03 Sep 16 1:00 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 22 - 32
01 Oct 17 12:10 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 12 - 38
05 May 18 5:05 pm Pre Season Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 32 - 06
22 Sep 18 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 37 - 21
28 Oct 18 2:30 pm Heartland Championship-Lochore Cup Final Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 26 - 23
05 Oct 19 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 25 - 20
19 Sep 20 2:30 pm PGG Wrightson Cup Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 08 - 43
10 Oct 20 2:30 pm Bruce Steel Cup Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 47 - 24
30 Oct 21 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 37 - 14
03 Sep 22 2:30 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 17 - 33
02 Sep 23 2:00 pm Heartland Championship Horowhenua-Kapiti v Wairarapa-Bush RU 24 - 19
14 Sep 24 2:35 pm Heartland Championship Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 45 - 62