1999

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:

Back to Year by Year Index click here

1999

waibush2014

Season

1999 Status:
Third Division
Founded 1886 – Affiliated 1893 – Amalgamated 1971
President:
B.G.Whale
Chairman:
G.A.Lind
.Executive.Officer:
A.J.O’Neill
Selector:
M.F.C.Benton
Main ground:
Memorial Park , Masterton
Capacity:
10,000
Colours:
Green and Red

_awb

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 8Won 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
Sat 24 Jul 2:30 pm Ranfurly Shield Waikato v Wairarapa-Bush RU 74 - 06
Wed 11 Aug 2:30 pm Representative Match Wairarapa-Bush RU v Bay of Plenty 06 - 60
Sat 21 Aug 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v West Coast 00 - 09
Sat 28 Aug 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v Horowhenua-Kapiti 10 - 26
Sat 04 Sep 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v Ngāti Porou East Coast 15 - 31
Sat 11 Sep 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Buller v Wairarapa-Bush RU 10 - 41
Sat 18 Sep 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Poverty Bay v Wairarapa-Bush RU 25 - 03
Sat 25 Sep 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC Wairarapa-Bush RU v South Canterbury 12 - 12
Sat 02 Oct 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC North Otago v Wairarapa-Bush RU 17 - 00
Sat 09 Oct 2:30 pm 3rd Division NPC West Coast v Wairarapa-Bush RU 31 - 12

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