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

Acknowledgments to the NZ Rugby Almanack Franchise:

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Generally the newly-combined Union enjoyed a reasonably successful season, being victorious in six of its ten fixtures including in the win section the defeat of Manawatu in a Bruce Steel Cup challenge. Out of character was the severe defeat at Wellington, this especially after the well-contested match with the capital city’s elect in the season’s opening game, and the fine showing put up against British Isles, although the “Lions” did finish the contest with a substantial lead. Sound scrummaging and line-out work gave the backs ample ball, whilst overall the team had speed and thrust in the open play.

The captain was the former Lincoln College and New Zealand Universities player, Karatau, whose experience behind the scrummage was most useful. Couch was reliable at first five-eighth, his performances in the early games pleasing, whilst Carroll, who had represented Manawatu in 1968 and came into the side for the final matches, and Sanson, were of good standard. A new representative, 18-year old Purvis, showed ability and promise at second five-eighth. Martin, who had played for Canterbury the previous season, was a Constructive centre. Barnes ran with determination, but generally the side was weak in the wing-three quarter positions, though 19-year old newcomer, Dick, showed promise. Marfell was an enterprising and capable full-back, and with three tries, as well as 63 points from his boot, supplied more than half Wairarapa-Bush’s total points.

The retirement of Lochore was obviously a severe loss, emphasized by his display on his sole appearance when he was persuaded to return for the match with the “Lions”. The Union ‘possessed two outstanding loose forwards, both worthy of further notice, in Gray and Ryan. A most intelligent forward, Gray possesses pace and initiative. Ryan has speed and tirelessly chases the ball, whilst his tackling is first-rate. Brock was a sound No.8, and Turley and Oliver, the locks, excelled in the line-out. Turley was not always free of injury. In the front row, Rowlands and Crawley were good all-round forwards, with Falconer the competent hooker.

Altogether, 29 players represented Wairarapa-Bush, of whom only four were in their first season. Fourteen had represented Wairarapa the previous season and three had fielded for Bush; one other played for the Wairarapa-Bush combination. Of the remainder, Ryan had represented Bush in 1969, Couch and Wilkinson had appeared with Wairarapa in 1968, and Howard had previously represented Bush in 1967 and Mid-Canterbury in 1968. Gray and Turley appeared in the North Island trials, and Rowlands played in the Prince of Wales Cup match. Lochore represented New Zealand in the third Test.

1971 MATCH RECORD
Played, 10; Won, 6; Lost, 4
Points: For, 141 ; Against, 176

BRUCE STEEL CUP
After Wanganui had held the above trophy throughout 1970, Manawatu won it back in the first contest of the season, but after a big win at Levin was defeated by Wairarapa-Bush. The newly-originated combined side thus became the third of the contracting Unions to hold this Memorial Cup.

The 1971 series resulted:
Manawatu 20 v 18 Wanganui , At Wanganui
Manawatu 35 v 12 Horowhenua , At Levin
Wairarapa-Bush 21 v 11 Manawatu , At Palmerston North

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1971 {Total Games}

Cap#		PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB	PL
001		Bernard Stewart Wolland	Prop	Konini	3
002		Graham Edmund Falconer	Hooker	Carterton	9
003		William Nepia ‘Bill’ Rowlands	Prop	Red Star	10
004		lan Francis Turley	Loose Forward, Lock	Red Star	6
005		David Patrick Oliver	Lock	Konini	10
006		George Neville Gray	Flanker	Red Star	10
007		Patrick John Ryan	Loose Forward	Pahiatua	10
008		Robert.R.’Bob’ Brock	No. 8	Red Star	9
009		Laurence Herbert Karatau	Scrumhalf	(c) Masterton	10
010		Roy Te Ra Riwai Couch	First Five, Fullback	Featherston	7
011		Ken E. O’Shea	Winger	Featherston	4
012		Neil Alexander Purvis	Centre, First Five	Masterton	10
013		Bruce George Martin	Centre	Masterton	6
014		Michael Barnes	Centre	Woodville	7
015		Vernon Douglas Marfell	Fullback	Masterton	10
016		William John Crawley	Prop	Carterton	8
017		William Clayton Howard	Centre	Konini	2
018		Anthony Reginald ‘Tony’ Duffy	Hooker, Prop	Masterton	1
019		Roger Frank Sommerville	Scrumhalf	Red Star	1
020		Malcolm Rex Sanson	First Five, Fullback	Masterton	5
021		Sir Brian James Lochore OBE-KNZM-ONZ	Lock, No. 8	Masterton	1
022		Gary Keith McGlashan	Hooker	Red Star	2
023		E.W. “Eddie’ Thompson	Winger	Masterton Marist	1
024		Gary Robert Dick	Winger	Masterton	5
025		John William Dalziell	Hooker, Prop	East Coast	4
026		Robert Keith Stevenson	Centre	Tiraumea	1
027		Thomas William Wilkinson	First Five, Winger	Carterton	3
028		Joseph J. Carroll	First Five	Featherston	3
029		Gordon Edward Hamilton	Winger	Red Star	1