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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1973
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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 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 | Match Center |
Wed 16 May | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Victoria (Aus) | 35 - 15 | Match Center |
Mon 04 Jun | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Hawkes Bay | 15 - 34 | Match Center |
Sat 21 Jul | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Nelson Bays | 27 - 09 | Match Center |
Sat 28 Jul | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Whanganui v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 22 - 12 | Match Center |
Sun 05 Aug | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v King Country | 25 - 06 | Match Center |
Sat 11 Aug | 2:30 pm | Ranfurly Shield | Marlborough v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 36 - 00 | Match Center |
Wed 15 Aug | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua | 28 - 08 | Match Center |
Sat 18 Aug | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Taranaki v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 13 - 06 | Match Center |
Sat 25 Aug | 2:30 pm | Bruce Steel Cup | Manawatu v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 13 - 03 | Match Center |
Sat 01 Sep | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Southland | 15 - 14 | Match Center |
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 |
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