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

Wairarapa Bush made the top four Meads Cup playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons to consolidate their position as one of the Heartland heavyweights. Only two defeats were experienced in the round robin, each by just two points, and both could have been won. Conversely, the two-point win over Poverty Bay could have been lost as no opponent was ever really dominated, but the defence was a strong point. The defeat in the semi—final against Wanganui was just a case of coming up against a team in top form.

Locals from 2015 that did not reappear were Tipene Haira, Cody Whittaker (both to Taranaki James Wall (Wellington), Paul Tikomainavalu (returned to Fiji), Kurt Simmonds and John McFadzean (both retired). Thirty players were called upon, with only 16 having represented union previously. Some interesting newcomers were Sam Gammie (West Coast), Andrew Smith (Mid Canterbury), Abe Haira (Taranaki), Stan Wright (the Cook Islands representative who had finished a long stint in France and previously represented Mid Canterbury and Northland) and former All Black Zac Guildford, back to the province of his birth, after not taking up a contract at Tasman. In addition, Sam Monaghan returned from overseas.

The forward pack was mobile, but not a big one by Heartland standards, and the scrum was vulnerable on occasions. The loose forwards Sam Gammie, Nick Cranston and James Goodger were in outstanding form, with Goodger also providing a lot of lineout ball. Cranston, in his debut season at first-class level, was also given the captaincy. The trio’s combination came to a premature end with the unfortunate injury to Goodger. Andrew McLean had a huge work rate at lock and was left as the principal lineout Winner with Goodger’s unavailability. The scrum went better with the valuable experience of Stan Wright on the tighthead side while Richard Puddy’s good form saw him supplant Abe Haira at hooker by the end of the season.

Loan player John Ika was in superb form at halfback, very quick to break around the fringes, but was another to succumb to iniury before the end. Tim Priest was steady at first five-eighth and an accurate goalkicker. At second five-eighth it seemed to be a choice of the better attacker in Iziq Foa’i or the sound defender in Andy Humberstone. Zac Guildford, placed in the unfamiliar position of centre, did not get many opportunities on attack, but his experience was invaluable. At fullback, Sam Monaghan was another who did not get many opportunities. On the right wing, Cameron Hayton was top try-scorer with six. The backline may have been better served with Monaghan at first five-eighth and Zac Guildford at fullback or wing. Fijian winger Peni Rokoduguni made a couple of cameo appearances; he is a brother of Semesa who played for England in 2014.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland: E.J.Cranston, S.J.Monaghan

2016 Match Record: Played 10 ; Won 7 ; Lost 3
Points : For 292; Against 246

• Try = 6 points
• Penalty Try = 8 points (no conversion attempt required)
• Conversion = 2 points
• Penalty goal = 2 points
• Dropped goal = 2 points

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 2016 {Total Games}

#CAP		NAME	POSITION	CLUB	PL
478		Richard William Puddy	Hooker, Prop	Gladstone	10
481		Andrew Robert McLean	Lock	Gladstone	10
515		lnia S.T. Katia	Fullback, Scrumhalf, Winger	Gladstone	9
518		James W.P.R. Goodger	Flanker, Loose Forward	Marist	7
522		Lachie J.M. McFadzean	Lock	Carterton	1
524		Cameron McKellar Hayton	Winger	Gladstone	10
529		Glen Miha Walters	First Five, Fullback	Greytown	10
542		Jacko T. Hull	Prop	Carterton	2
545		Samuel Jack ‘Sam’ Monaghan	First Five, Fullback, Winger	Eketahuna	9
549		Robert Joseph Anderson	Centre	Eketahuna	7
559		Timothy Craig ‘Tim’ Priest	First Five, Fullback	Martinborough	9
562		Cory A. McFadzean	Fullback	Carterton	6
565		Liam M.D. Devine	Loose Forward	Marist	7
567		Brendon J.W. ‘BJ’ Campbell	Flanker, No. 8	Eketahuna	10
570		Andrew R. Humberstone	Centre	Carterton	10
573		Matthew H. ‘Matt’ Kawana	Prop	Pioneer	9
575		Abe T. Haira	Hooker	Clifton	10
576		Vaike R. Potoru	Prop	Martinborough	2
577		Andrew D. Smith	Flanker, Lock	Gladstone	10
578		Eddie J. Cranston	Flanker, Loose Forward	Gladstone	10
579		Sam G. Gammie	Prop	Eketahuna	10
580		John T. Ika	Scrumhalf	Moutere	7
581		Iziq L. Foa’i	Centre	Central	6
582		Stuart B. McLeod	Prop	Gladstone	1
583		Blake G. Knight	Lock	Martinborough	4
584		Zachary Robert Guildford	Centre	Tech OB	9
585		Stan S. Wright	Prop	Overseas	7
586		Nicholas J. Hohepa	Prop	Greytown	8
587		Daryl J. Pickering	Scrumhalf	Carterton	3
588		Peni Rokoduguni	Winger	Carterton	2

#CAP		NAME	SEASON
—		Penalty Try	2019, 2018, 2016, 2005, 1987, 2003, 2002, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999