Bush diehards hunt victory

Is it possible that long-suffering Wairarapa-Bush supporters are in for another emotional rollercoaster ride again this weekend? If so, will the track be facing uphill or downhill?
This may well be the thinking as diehards head across to Levin to watch Wairarapa-Bush take on Horowhenua-Kapiti in the second round of the Lochore Cup tomorrow.
Expectations of gaining at least a home semifinal were running high before the home side faced a depleted West Coast last weekend. After all, Wairarapa-Bush seemed to be the form horse leading into the Lochore Cup, holding a three-point buffer on its opposition and having put in its most committed and efficient performance the week before against the talented North Otago team. Furthermore, Wairarapa-Bush had topped what was arguably the tougher of the two pools in the Heartlands Championship after pool play. So, despite inconsistent results, an air of optimism reigned.
Consequently, last weekend's loss to West Coast was not only a shock in terms of the final scoreline, but also in the manner by which it was achieved.
Words and phrases such as "lethargic", "below acceptable standard" and "plain awful" were used to describe aspects of play in the first half. But while things improved to some extent after the interval, sparked by some positional and personnel changes and sufficient to ward off fears of loyal supporters leaving early "to drown their sorrow", witnesses described the team as "hapless" with few players enhancing personal reputations. In anyone's terms, hardly a ringing endorsement to a team looking to lift the Lochore Cup for the first time.
Whether or not Wairarapa-Bush had been lulled in to a false sense of security by knowing the likely level of the opposition, with consistency levels suffering as a result, is open to debate. If so, it may not be the first time this season and the lesson hadn't sunk in.
The East Coast game was another example of where the home side may have failed in that regard. In the second half of that game where Wairarapa-Bush were comfortably ahead at half-time, they failed to register any more points with coach Kelvin Tantrum declaring: "It was hard for the team not to think they had it won by half-time." Result: East Coast came back strongly in the second half and Wairarapa-Bush found themselves camped in their own half for long periods.
But wait, there's more. Apart from inconsistency of effort and possibly under-estimating the opposition, defensive lapses seem to remain the other major bugbear. Three tries conceded in very quick time last weekend, the same the week before against North Otago which arguably cost the home side the game and blotted an otherwise promising performance, a mini collapse against Mid Canterbury and the try fest in Gisborne against Poverty Bay.
Going off the boil has cost Wairarapa-Bush dearly this season, not only in terms of points dropped in championship and cup matches but also in building up and then maintaining any sort of momentum to carry forward to the next game.
Hence those supporters travelling to Levin for tomorrow's encounter may be wondering which Wairarapa-Bush team will be taking to the field, not only in terms of personnel but also regarding team performance.
The task for the players has now taken on a completely different dimension after last weekend's showing since Wairarapa-Bush now need to win both remaining games to be guaranteed a home semifinal, something that appeared almost a cast-iron cert just a week ago.
The Wairarapa-Bush run-on team shows just two changes from last weekend, with James Bruce returning at half-back and Cyrus Baker wears the No 12 jersey.
Team: Kurt Simmonds, Joe Harwood, Dylan Higgison, Andrew McLean, Brandon Young, Josh Tua-Davidson, Rupeni Tamani, Mana Faraimo, James Bruce, Jeremy Te Huia, Cyrus Baker, Hemi Tupaea, Junior Togia, Jesse McGilvary, Byron Karaitiana. Horowhenua come into tomorrow's game on the back of a 23-11 home loss to Buller last weekend, but only conceded the one try in the process and doubtless will have had the error of their ways - in the form of conceding the other 18 points through penalties - drummed into them during the week.

Horowhenua assistant coach Jared Tanira was in no doubt about the task in hand. "We'll be telling the guys they have to be harder and smarter at the breakdown. It cost us last weekend. We see this as a must-win fixture for both teams. It could be a humdinger of a match. We know the Bush will be hurting after last weekend but we'll be looking to lift the spoils at the end of the day."
So which is it to be: Wairarapa-Bush's lack of consistency and suspect defence or the home team's apparent costly lack of discipline but ability to cause an upset?
Knowing that arguably the sternest test still lies ahead- against King Country - if they want to host a home semi, as well as wanting to bury the memory of last weekend and put a smile on their supporters' faces, may be the motivation that spurs Wairarapa-Bush on to bring home the points.