1973

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

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1973

_awb 
 Season

Founded 1886 – Affiliated 1893 – Amalgamated 1971
Selector:
Mr I.A.Aitkenhead
Main ground:
Memorial Park , Masterton
Capacity:
7,000
Colours:
Green and Red

Wairarapa-Bush won five of its 11-match programme, all of which were gained on its own territory. Its largest win -— by the handsome margin of twenty points — was against the touring Victorian team where the home backs proved far superior. The emphasis on spinning the ball resulted in the backs scoring 19 of the side’s 21 tries in the eight matches when the opposition’s line was crossed. Although down 10 to 3 at half-time, Wairarapa-Bush had the better of the Ranfurly Shield match up to that stage.

The withdrawal through personal reasons of the 1972 captain and half-back, Karatau, did not help iron out the Selector’s problem of quick service from a hard-working forward pack which played too loose to ensure clean ball.

As admirably as he played behind the scrum, Harris did not give speedy delivery, and the new 20-year old 1st five-eighth, McEwen (who showed much promise in place of the injured Sanson) was often harassed by opposition flankers . . . a notable occurrence in Wairarapa-Bush’s big loss in the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Marlborough. Inder was a solid second five-eighth with good defence, while centre Martin (who captained the team early in the season) was the side’s best back with his ability to make the “break”; he played in all eleven matches.

A 1969 Wairarapa winger, Sims, appeared to have lost some of his pace (he returned after representing Manawatu in 1970-71); Hooper-Smith, who last appeared in 1970, occupied the other wing position for three games before leaving the district. A newcomer, the 13st., 21-year old Glover, then impressed with his hip-thrusting running and looks a wing-three quarter of much promise. Bargh, who made one appearance at centre, was a 1971 Poverty Bay representative. Couch was an enterprising full-back (he also played in the five-eighths), but his unavailability for Sunday play saw a schoolteacher from Wanganui, Giles make his first-class debut at full-back; he appeared in five matches and registered 17 points against King Country.

The promising Lock/No. 8, Dalziell, who appeared previously in 1971, missed the latter part of the season through injury; the 1972 regular No. 8, Taylor, also suffered injury and made only three appearances. Turley, who has now played over 90 first-class matches, was a strength in the line-outs and was the only forward to appear in all 11 fixtures. The veteran Oliver, who had earlier indicated his intention to retire at the end of the Season, was replaced later in the programme by a promising young newcomer at lock, Clarke. McConnochie and Ryan were a lively pair of flankers, the latter taking over the captaincy after the third game. Wyeth and Spence were new side-rankers who appeared late in the programme; the 21-year old Spence looks a player of promise and should benefit from his transfer to the Senior A club grade in 1974. Dalton, a 1968 Mid-Canterbury representative, and Playle, who made one appearance as a reserve in 1970 for Wairarapa, teamed up as a solid pair of front-row props. McGlashan and newcomer Geange shared the hooking berth after regular hooker since 1968,Falconer, announced his retirement; he appeared Once as a replacement and, in all, has made 51 appearances for his Union.

For the 11 engagements, 36 players were called on, of which 13 were newcomers to representative Rugby.

Of the regular 1972 representatives, the prop A.B.Henwood had left the district, winger Roger Twentyman had retired, While the Maori prop W. N. Rowlands was in temporary retirement. N.A.Purvis had returned to Central Otago.

Ryan toured with the New Zealand Juniors, and the ex-Wairarapa All Black, B. J. Lochore, appeared for the President’s XV. and Invitation XV. against the New Zealand side.

1973

1973 MATCH RECORD
Played, 11; Won, 5; Lost, 6
Points: For, 166; Against, 190

1973

Wed 09 May 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Wellington 00 - 20
Wed 16 May 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Victoria (Aus) 35 - 15
Mon 04 Jun 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Hawkes Bay 15 - 34
Sat 21 Jul 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Nelson Bays 27 - 09
Sat 28 Jul 2:30 pm Representative Match Whanganui v Wairarapa-Bush RU 22 - 12
Sun 05 Aug 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v King Country 25 - 06
Sat 11 Aug 2:30 pm Ranfurly Shield Marlborough v Wairarapa-Bush RU 36 - 00
Wed 15 Aug 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua 28 - 08
Sat 18 Aug 2:30 pm Representative Match Taranaki v Wairarapa-Bush RU 13 - 06
Sat 25 Aug 2:30 pm Bruce Steel Cup Manawatu v Wairarapa-Bush RU 13 - 03
Sat 01 Sep 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Southland 15 - 14

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1973 {Total Games}

Cap# PLAYER POSITION CLUB PL
002 Graham Edmund Falconer Hooker Carterton 1
004 lan Francis Turley Loose Forward, Lock Red Star 11
005 David Patrick Oliver Lock Konini 6
007 Patrick John Ryan Loose Forward Pahiatua 10
009 Laurence Herbert Karatau Scrumhalf Masterton 1
010 Roy Te Ra Riwai Couch First Five, Fullback Featherston 8
013 Bruce George Martin Centre Masterton 11
020 Malcolm Rex Sanson First Five, Fullback Masterton 3
022 Gary Keith McGlashan Hooker Red Star 5
025 John William Dalziell Hooker, Prop East Coast 6
034 Brian J. McConnochie Flanker, Winger Masterton 8
036 Douglas Patrick Harris Scrumhalf Konini 9
038 Robert Turton ‘Bob’ Pringle Winger Masterton 2
039 Neville Douglas Taylor No. 8 Featherston 3
040 Brian William Narbey Flanker Featherston 3
042 Michael David Eastwood Flanker Masterton Marist 2
043 Kevin Wyless Inder Centre Pahiatua 8
044 Ronald Charles Parker Fullback Carterton 1
045 Nigel Peter Sargent Prop Featherston 1
046 Douglas Hooper-Smith Fullback, Winger Featherston 3
047 Richard Ewing ‘Ritchie’ Robertson Scrumhalf, Winger Greytown 3
048 David Rutherford Kershaw Forward Featherston 4
049 Ian Barry Blake First Five Carterton 1
050 Howard James Sims Winger Red Star 9
051 Anthony Robert ’Tony’ Foreman Lock Tiraumea 1
052 David Allen Boustead Loose Forward Pahiatua 1
053 Christopher John Bargh Centre Featherston 1
054 Clifford William Dalton Prop Masterton 8
055 Kevin Douglas Geange Forward Carterton 6
056 Rex Basil Playle Prop Carterton 8
057 John ‘Jock’ McEwan First Five Masterton 7
058 Leslie Norman Glover Winger Masterton 7
059 Peter Fredwick Giles Fullback Masterton 5
060 Brian William James Clarke Lock Red Star 5
061 Michael Eric Payton Wyeth Flanker Masterton 2
062 Simon James Spence Flanker East Coast 3