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:
1999Season |
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Wairarapa Bush had never experienced third division rugby before 1999, and were to discover that victories were no easier to achieve in the lower reaches of the NPC. Having won only one second division game in 1998, the union was relegated to the bottom grade for the first time, where their return was a sole success against Buller and a draw against South Canterbury. In fact, Wairarapa Bush scored half the number of tries in 1999 that they had in the higher division a year earlier.
New coach Mark Benton, who had played during the union’s first division reign, had big problems fielding a competitive team. In total 45 players were used, twelve making just one appearance.
The promising three-quarter Russell Thompson retuned after representing Counties Manukau to link with experienced backs Nathan and Ben Couch, Neil Foote and Robin Walker. All the other backs used had had little or no previous rep experience. Neil Rodger, an Under 17 international in 1989, had some good games as did winger Karl Halbert and halfback James Bruce.
The team’s strength was in the loose forward department where several experienced players, captain Mike Fleming, Germaine Anaha, Aaron Satchwell, Simon Searle and David Ewe, a 1989 Kiwi league rep, were very mobile and constantly harassed the opposition. Anaha was selected for the New Zealand Maori Colts team. A big lock, 19-year-old James Saipani, made an impression when he appeared. Mike Robinson, a Wellington rep in 1998, boosted the locking position.
1999 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 3 ; Lost 3
Points : For 20 ; Against 182
1999 NPC Third Division Match Record: Played 8; Won 1 ; Drew 1 ; Lost 6
Points : For 93 ; Against 161
1999
Wed 02 Jun | 2:30 pm | Bruce Steel Cup | Manawatu v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 48 - 08 | Match Center |
Sat 24 Jul | 2:30 pm | Ranfurly Shield | Waikato v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 74 - 06 | Match Center |
Wed 11 Aug | 2:30 pm | Representative Match | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Bay of Plenty | 06 - 60 | Match Center |
Sat 21 Aug | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v West Coast | 00 - 09 | Match Center |
Sat 28 Aug | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti | 10 - 26 | Match Center |
Sat 04 Sep | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v Ngāti Porou East Coast | 15 - 31 | Match Center |
Sat 11 Sep | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | Buller v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 10 - 41 | Match Center |
Sat 18 Sep | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | Poverty Bay v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 25 - 03 | Match Center |
Sat 25 Sep | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | Wairarapa-Bush RU v South Canterbury | 12 - 12 | Match Center |
Sat 02 Oct | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | North Otago v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 17 - 00 | Match Center |
Sat 09 Oct | 2:30 pm | 3rd Division NPC | West Coast v Wairarapa-Bush RU | 31 - 12 | Match Center |
Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1999 {Total Games}
#CAP | NAME | POSITION | CLUB | PL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
229 | Neil Michael William Foote | First Five, Scrumhalf | Marist | 8 | |
232 | Lee Diamond Paku | Hooker | Marist | 10 | |
233 | Richard Eion Clatworthy | Lock | Marist | 1 | |
243 | Paul Graeme Rogers | Hooker, Prop | Greytown | 1 | |
262 | Kerry Todd Hargood | Lock | Marist | 5 | |
267 | Michael James Fleming | Flanker | Greytown | 11 | |
287 | Nathan Leslie Arekateia Riwai-Couch | First Five, Fullback | Marist | 10 | |
296 | Aaron Wayne Satchwell | No. 8 | Eketahuna | 4 | |
300 | Troy David Para | Scrumhalf | Marist | 7 | |
301 | Michael James Gibbs | Lock | Eketahuna | 6 | |
302 | Simon William Edward Searle | Flanker | Carterton | 5 | |
307 | Michael Raymond Robinson | Loose Forward, Lock | Upper Hutt – Wellington RU | 6 | |
309 | Russell Tipene Thompson | Centre, Fullback | Marist | 8 | |
310 | Benjamin Francis Couch | First Five, Winger | Marist | 6 | |
313 | Deon Geoffrey Mitchell | Hooker | East Coast | 3 | |
314 | Robin Noel Walker | Centre | Featherston | 9 | |
317 | Aaron Matenga | Prop | East Coast | 2 | |
320 | Victor Graham Thompson | Scrumhalf | Masterton Red Star | 1 | |
322 | Shane Tyrone Namana | Lock | Carterton | 1 | |
323 | Germaine Stacey Anaha | Flanker | Masterton Red Star | 11 | |
329 | David William Hume | Hooker, Prop | Tuhirangi | 8 | |
330 | Samuel John Booth | Winger | Masterton Red Star | 8 | |
331 | Te Reina James Henare | Prop | Pioneer | 1 | |
332 | Frederick James Taulapapa Saipani | Lock | Gladstone | 8 | |
333 | Darren Kapene | First Five, Winger | Martinborough | 3 | |
334 | Daniel Joseph Maitland | Winger | Marist | 1 | |
335 | Andy Thomson Wichman | Winger | Masterton Red Star | 1 | |
336 | James Clayton Bruce | Scrumhalf | Gladstone | 9 | |
337 | Lawrence Hemi Matthews | Centre | Greytown | 1 | |
338 | Neil Timothy Rodger | First Five | Carterton | 8 | |
339 | Corey Karaitiana | Winger | Masterton Red Star | 1 | |
340 | Adam John Laffey | Hooker | Marist | 9 | |
341 | Tim Molenaar | Winger | East Coast | 4 | |
342 | Lee Crafar | Lock | Johnsonville – Wellington RU | 2 | |
343 | Patrick Harding-Rimene | First Five, Fullback | Marist | 1 | |
344 | Karl Halbert | Winger | Petone – Wellington RU | 8 | |
345 | David Ewe | No. 8 | Marist | 9 | |
346 | Keith Middleton | Winger | Marist | 3 | |
347 | Logan Fiaui Ili | Prop | Upper Hutt – Wellington RU | 8 | |
348 | Nicholas P. Byron | Hooker | Easts – Queensland RFU Aust. | 1 | |
349 | Joe Maugatai | Prop | Masterton Red Star | 1 | |
350 | Elton John Lambert | Flanker | Marist | 3 | |
351 | Norman Albert Henricksen | Flanker, Lock | Puketoi | 3 | |
352 | Robert Justin Lopez | Flanker | Gladstone | 2 | |
353 | Geoff Stretch | Winger | Masterton Red Star | 2 |
#CAP | NAME | SEASON | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
— | Penalty Try | 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2007, 2006, 2015, 2014, 2008, 1987, 2003, 2002, 2013, 1990, 2010, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 | 1 |