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

Results of early-season fixtures suggested that Wairarapa Bush would enjoy a profitable NPC campaign but losing three of the first four championship games placed the team on the back foot and they had to fight to clinch a semi-final position. The build-up began with a memorable 20-15 win over a Wellington XV, Wairarapa Bush taking possession of the Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy for the first time in many years. After a narrow loss to Wanganui, an encouraging 20-19 victory was gained over Manawatu. The final game before the NPC was a 19-39 loss to Marlborough.

“Only the Wanganui game had first-class status.”

The 6-20 loss to North Otago, at the start of the NPC, became the heaviest defeat of the campaign and it was unfortunate that 20-year-old Aayden Clarke missed a possible eighteen points with his goalkicking. Both games against South Canterbury were very close; with an ounce of luck the semi-final could have been won.

Mike Robinson again led the team from the back of the scrum though his own form was hampered by injury. Germaine Anaha had an outstanding season, the pacy flanker gaining a Divisional trial. Stanley Afeaki, brother of Wellington’s Inoke Afeaki, was the other flanker. James Saipani and Norm Henricksen were the regular locks with the two metre tall Stuart Smith improving immensely as a lineout exponent.

Former Samoan and Marlborough hooker Jason Adamson formed a solid front row with props Justin Va’a and Rakai Te Ture. Jordan Saipani is a highly promising 20-year-old prop who appeared in the early season games.

Nathan Sanson was the regular halfback. Darren Kapene played outside him until being moved to fullback, where he was able to use his attacking skills to better advantage. Jamie Stewart-McDonald was moved from wing to midfield where his strength was used to good effect.

South African Jaco Pieterse, a Marlborough rep in 1997, became the regular centre while the wing positions were shared between three very youthful but promising speedsters. Former national secondary schools hockey rep Lance Workman was in only his second year of rugby and is a sharp runner. lliesa Durrant and Anthony Hullena, both just 18 years old, possess pace, with the latter, although small, being deceptively quick and perhaps the standout back of the season. Fullback Patrick Rimene was injured mid·season.

2001 Pre-Season Match Record: Played 1 ; Lost 1
Points : For 26 ; Against 33

2001 NPC Third Division Match Record: Played 7 ; Won 3; Lost 4
Points : For 150 ; Against 96

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2001 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
224		Mark Brendon Percy	Scrumhalf	East Coast	1
307		Michael Raymond Robinson	Loose Forward, Lock	Greytown	8
323		Germaine Stacey Anaha	Flanker	Masterton Red Star	8
332		Frederick James Taulapapa Saipani	Lock	Gladstone	8
333		Darren Kapene	First Five, Winger	Petone – Wellington RU	7
336		James Clayton Bruce	Scrumhalf	Gladstone	5
343		Patrick Harding-Rimene	First Five, Fullback	Marist	4
347		Logan Fiaui Ili	Prop	Marist	6
351		Norman Albert Henricksen	Flanker, Lock	Puketoi	8
354		Rakai Te Ture	Prop	PNHSOB – Manawatu RU	7
358		Jamie Finn Stewart-McDonald	Centre, Winger	Marist	8
359		Thomas Paul Gemmell	First Five	Wainuiomata – Wellington RU	7
362		Justin Hugh Va’a	Prop	Wainuiomata – Wellington RU	7
364		Stuart Graeme Smith	Lock	Eketahuna	8
367		Nicholas Martin Giera	Prop	Marist St Pats – Wellington RU	1
368		Jason P. Adamson	Flanker, Hooker	Marist	8
369		Richard Allan McDonald	Flanker, Hooker	Marist	5
370		Nathan Kent Sanson	Scrumhalf	Masterton Red Star	8
371		Frederik Jacobes ‘Jaco’ Pieterse	Centre	Masterton Red Star	8
372		Anthony James Hullena	Fullback, Winger	Gladstone	8
373		Daniel Fenwick	Hooker	Greytown	6
374		Jordan Saipani	Prop	Gladstone	1
375		Bryan Saolele	Flanker	Northern Utd – Wellington RU	1
376		Iliesa Vosarogoci Durrant	Winger	Greytown	5
377		Lance Matthew Workman	Winger	Greytown	7
378		Stanley Ilalio Andrew Afeaki	Flanker	Petone – Wellington RU	7
379		Aayden John Clarke	First Five	Napier Pirates – Hawke’s Bay RU	1
380		David John Drummond	Winger	Marist	1
381		Philip Douglas Saxton	Flanker	Greytown	4