B side dominate second half for win

A strong second-half performance took Wairarapa-Bush B to a 39-16 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti B in the RDO Cup rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.

Down 13-3 at the break after bombing several prime scoring opportunities through basic passing and handling errors, Wairarapa-Bush dominated the next 40 minutes on all counts - possession, territory and points.

They ran in five unanswered tries through Tipene Haira, Hoani Peacock, Sam Marshall-Wilson, Tony Carter and Cody Whittaker over that period of play, with forwards and backs often combining in movements that had the Horowhenua-Kapiti defence at sixes and sevens.

The Wairarapa-Bush forwards had an ascendancy at scrum time throughout the whole of the match, something evidenced by the fact they took four tightheads and often had Horowhenua-Kapiti on the back foot.

There was also a lot to like about the mobility of the pack, with Mike Harmon, Tony Carter and Sam Marshall-Wilton ensuring they had the better of the battle for the loose ball, and Lee Ewe and Aki Henare-Kuru both starring in several rampaging bursts when they joined the action in the second half.

Defensively the forwards were strong with Harmon, who would have had to be a frontrunner for any player-of-the-match award, leading the way.

His tackle count was enormous.

The Wairarapa-Bush backs struggled to get any continuity into their play in the first half.

However, they made sharp improvement in the second when passes started to stick and the likes of Phil Aporo, Hoani Peacock and Cody Whittaker were able to constantly breach the advantage line.