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:
1978Season |
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Successful in only two of its 12 fixtures, defeating Poverty Bay and East Coast, both by wide margins, Wairarapa-Bush experienced a disappointing season. As indicated they could win and win well, and it is difficult to account for the lack of success in other matches. The side generally was a very young one with experienced players such as Patrick, Blake and Clarke appearing in only the first three matches. No fewer than 11 of the 29 players called on were making their first appearance in first-class Rugby.
Rowlands again captained the side when he was available, Snook acting in his absence. The leading forwards were Cooper, a strong, tall No.8 who had previously played in Rotorua, Foreman, tall lock who had previously represented in 1974; Cole, lock or side-ranker and hard worker, and new representatives, Schofield, lock, and McKenzie, side-ranker. Turley’s strength and height were useful in the later matches he has now appeared in 146 representative matches. McGlashan; hooker in the earlier match was later replaced by new 22-year-old Thompson who had gained selection as a flanker. Playle, Fauval and newcomer Hansen were the props.
Robertson was again a lively half-back, with Stuart, from Lincoln as substitute. Snook was a reliable good-handling first five-eighths. After again appearing in earlier games at five-eighths, Huriwai was later a fast and lively siderow forward. The 19-year-old Cotter shows considerable promise at second-five-eighths, as also does the 20 year old Reedy, a fast and elusive centre who had represented East Coast. Cornford, 22-year-old winger who had last represented in 1974 was a big powerful runner with the 20-year-old Spowart a speedy three-quarter. Kjestrup is one of the best full-backs in the country, a strong and safe defender, eager attacker, and a reliable place-kick — he registered 67 points this season. Another interesting new comer was the 19-year-old 6ft 3in Hawkins.
Cotter represented New Zealand Juniors in Queensland and Rowlands played in the Prince of Wales cup match.
1978 Match Record: Played 12 : Won 2; Lost 10
Points : For 140; Against 200
1978
Wed 03 May | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Wellington | 06 - 37 | Match Center |
Wed 17 May | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Manawatu | 14 - 25 | Match Center |
Mon 05 Jun | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Hawkes Bay v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 16 - 09 | Match Center |
Sun 25 Jun | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v NZ Colts | 06 - 17 | Match Center |
Sat 29 Jul | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Horowhenua v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 06 - 00 | Match Center |
Sat 12 Aug | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Ngāti Porou East Coast | 26 - 06 | Match Center |
Sat 19 Aug | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Waikato v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 23 - 14 | Match Center |
Sat 26 Aug | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Whanganui | 09 - 17 | Match Center |
Thu 31 Aug | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Poverty Bay | 30 - 06 | Match Center |
Thu 07 Sep | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Thames Valley v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 16 - 12 | Match Center |
Sun 10 Sep | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Bay of Plenty v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 18 - 07 | Match Center |
Sat 16 Sep | 2:30 pm | 2nd Division North Island NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v King Country | 10 - 13 | Match Center |
Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1978 {Total Games}
CAP# | PLAYER | POSITION | CLUB | PL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
003 | ![]() |
William Nepia ‘Bill’ Rowlands | Prop | Masterton Red Star | 5 |
004 | ![]() |
lan Francis Turley | Loose Forward, Lock | Masterton Red Star | 4 |
022 | ![]() |
Gary Keith McGlashan | Hooker | Masterton Red Star | 6 |
047 | ![]() |
Richard Ewing ‘Ritchie’ Robertson | Scrumhalf, Winger | Greytown | 8 |
049 | ![]() |
Ian Barry Blake | First Five | Carterton | 3 |
051 | ![]() |
Anthony Robert ’Tony’ Foreman | Lock | Eketahuna | 5 |
056 | ![]() |
Rex Basil Playle | Prop | Carterton | 9 |
060 | ![]() |
Brian William James Clarke | Lock | Masterton Red Star | 3 |
063 | ![]() |
Bruce Bernard Patrick | Centre | Gladstone | 3 |
064 | ![]() |
Neil Francis Kjestrup | First Five, Fullback | Gladstone | 12 |
066 | ![]() |
John William Cole | Flanker | Greytown | 11 |
067 | ![]() |
Michael Edward Cornford | Winger | Eketahuna | 12 |
076 | ![]() |
David James Pitt | Flanker | Greytown | 2 |
082 | ![]() |
Bruce Douglas McKenzie | Flanker | Tiraumea (A) | 6 |
088 | ![]() |
Hona T. Huriwai | Utility Back | Masterton Red Star | 9 |
098 | ![]() |
Ian Robert Snook | First Five | Pioneer | 7 |
100 | ![]() |
James Alfred ‘Jimmy’ Cotter | Centre | Carterton | 11 |
103 | ![]() |
Dallas Archer Spowart | Winger | Masterton Red Star | 10 |
104 | ![]() |
Ralph R. Fauval | Prop | Masterton Red Star | 4 |
106 | ![]() |
Stephen Reihana Thompson | Flanker, Hooker | Gladstone | 12 |
107 | ![]() |
Ross Melville Cooper | Loose Forward | Tuhirangi | 11 |
108 | ![]() |
Bruce Colin Stuart | Scrumhalf | Pongaroa (A) | 5 |
109 | ![]() |
Paul Huatahi Hawkins | Loose Forward | Martinborough | 1 |
110 | ![]() |
Alan C. Schofield | Lock, Prop | East Coast | 8 |
111 | ![]() |
Gary James Daysh | Flanker | Carterton | 1 |
112 | ![]() |
Henry Fitzgerald Reedy | Centre | Pioneer | 9 |
113 | ![]() |
Russell George Geange | Centre | Carterton | 3 |
114 | ![]() |
Bruce Hendry Mitchinson | Lock | Masterton | 2 |
115 | ![]() |
Quinton Wayne Hansen | Prop | Tuhirangi | 4 |
(A) Puketoi Sub-union
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