Birthday boy shines with hat-trick

Samoan midfield back Simanu Simanu provided the icing on the cake for his own birthday bash when he scored a hat-trick of tries for Wairarapa-Bush in their NPC third division grand final match with Horowhenua-Kapiti at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
It was an effort which played a huge part in Wairarapa-Bush's thrilling 28-23 victory in what was the last-ever NPC third division game and Simanu , who turned 24 on match day, was still coming to terms with it while celebrating his side's championship success with team-mates at a Masterton bar late yesterday morning.
"You just don't expect those sort of things to happen," he said. "Everything just seemed to go for me?.it was just one of those games I guess."
The three tries took Simanu's tally for the 2005 NPC season to 13, a remarkable six ahead of the previous Wairarapa-Bush try scoring record set by wing Esava Teko last season.
But talking to the strongly-built centre you get the impression that while he enjoys scoring tries he gets every bit as much a kick out of making big hits on defence.
Observers have noted that Simanu appeared to be fitter and quicker in representative play this season and he has a simple reason for that, his work on an Eketahuna farm involves climbing hills, chasing sheep and cutting scrub and its helped have him in top shape.
"They keep me busy at work ?..I don't have a lot of time to rest," he laughed."It's the best fitness training you can get."
With Saturday's grand final being televised live it would surprise if the Samoan national selectors have failed to note Simanu's potential and he is keen to play for them if the opportunity ever arises
"Yes, it would be nice to play for my country but I've never been asked and don't know if I ever will be," he said. " "We'll just to wait and see what happens."
Wairarapa-Bush coach Peter Russell has not been at all surprised by Simanu's outstanding form in 2005, saying it was simply a matter of him continuing the progress he had made in the past.
"He is a very, very good player," Russell said. "We've used him as the main link in our defence and he's handled that brilliantly and, of course, he has that knack of turning half-chances into tries. He's an absolute standout in third division."
Russell was a in a jocular mood when asked to reflect on a Wairarapa-Bush performance which saw them race out to a 25-6 lead going into the last 30 minutes of play and then have to stave off a Horowhenua-Kapiti comeback which saw them reduce the advantage to 25-23 with still three minutes to play.
"It was a final?we wanted to keep it entertaining," he said. "We wanted everybody at the park and everybody watching at home to be on the edge of their seats.Isn't that what finals rugby is all about?" Russell had further good news for Wairarapa-Bush fans too, saying Player of the Year, Fijian lock Tomasi Kedarabuka ,was keen to play for the union again in 2006 despite having overtures from first division unions.
In fact, it seems likely that only skipper Mike Robinson from this year's squad will be unavailable for selection next year when Wairarapa-Bush will be part of the revamped NPC second division competition.
Robinson, for his part, was delighted that Wairarapa-Bush had finished their season on such a high note and after thanking his players for their efforts he also paid a tribute to the huge crowd which had attended Saturday's grand final. "This trophy is as much for you as it is for us," he said.
The size of the crowd and the vocal support they gave the home team brought back memories of that fairytale 1981 season when within the space of a week Wairarapa-Bush won the North Island second division championship, the national second division championship and a promotion to the national first division series.
It was the first time Wairarapa-Bush have hosted a final since the NPC competitions commenced although they also made the grand final last year when they travelled to Gisborne and were well beaten by Poverty Bay.
The bulk of the 2005 squad had been part of that defeat and skipper Robinson was one of many who said it would be motivation for a much different result second time around.
It was that Gisborne loss, in fact, which spurred Robinson himself to have one more season in the Wairarapa-Bush colours and Saturday;' win was the perfect ending to an association which started in 1997 and spanned more than 60 games.
And it was the perfect result too for first-five Patrick Rimene who was given the honour of leading his team onto the paddock for what was his 50th appearance for his union.