Bush get the drop on Bay

A magnificent forward effort paved the way for Wairarapa-Bush's last gasp 14-13 win over Poverty Bay in their Jeremy David Memorial Trophy rugby match at Gisborne on Saturday.
Talented Pioneer first-five Tipene Haira had been on the field for only 15 minutes or so when he calmly slotted the drop goal from in front of the posts on the Poverty Bay 22m line which saw Wairarapa-Bush claim the lead for the first occasion in the match with time almost up.
There was though enough time left for Poverty Bay to work themselves into opposition territory and earn themselves a penalty 50m out.
Skipper Scott Leighton, who had already landed two penalties and a conversion, took the kick but it fell well short and the kick to touch signalled the game's end.
Wairarapa-Bush deserved the win which was a massive reversal from last year's Heartland clash between the two provinces when they were on the end of a 62-6 drubbing.
For apart from the first 20 where Poverty Bay achieved an equal share of possession and managed to run in a try to winger Ratu Vosaki, converted by Leighton, it was Wairarapa-Bush who had the greater share of quality ball and a definite territorial advantage.
It was up front where Wairarapa-Bush called the tune.
Three or four times they had the Poverty Bay scrum back-pedalling at a rate of knots.
The forwards seldom had trouble taking down their own lineout ball and disrupted a few of Poverty Bay's throws and there was an impressive unity and level of aggression in the short passing rushes which quickly became their most profitable form of attack.
Outstanding too was the ferocity of the Wairarapa-Bush close-quarter defence, with Poverty Bay generally coming off second best when they looked to bash and crash their way upfield from
around the fringes of the scrums and mauls.
That a lack of preparation did not have much, if any adverse effect on the Wairarapa-Bush forward effort was hardly surprising when you consider that the only member of the pack in the starting line-up not from the Eketahuna club was prop Kurt Simmonds, who actually would have been a prime contender for any player of the match award.
Not only did he do everything expected of him in the tighter exchanges but he made a number of storming runs in broken play and was one of his side's surest tacklers, especially in that opening 20 minutes when Poverty Bay threatened the Wairarapa-Bush line on a couple of occasions.
Simmonds was initially partnered by Brendon Walker and Campbell Lawrence in the front row and they also took the eye with their hard graft in the tighter aspects forward play as did Wilbur Davies when he joined the action in the second half.
Lock Dan Griffin showed that the injury problems which have worried him over the past couple of seasons are now a thing of the past.
He was strong and reliable in the lineouts, mobile about the paddock and a vigorous scrapper for possession in the mauls.
Brandon Young, in the first half, and Andrew McLean in the second were other middle rowers who were more-than-useful in the lineouts and they too lacked nothing in endeavour when it came to push and shove.
The workrate of the Wairarapa-Bush loosies was enormous on both attack and defence.
New skipper Joss Tua-Davidson led by example with his willingness to be the first cab off the rank in the short passing rushes and "pick and goes"and Rupeni Tamani, Johan Van Vliet and, when he came on in the second half, Jared Hawkins, were invariably on his shoulder.
This was Van Vliet's debut game for Wairarapa-Bush and he could not have wished for a better introduction to this level of rugby. There was a pleasing intensity about everything he did, with some big hits on defence being especially noteworthy.
Tamani and Hawkins, for their part, constantly harassed the opposing inside backs and Tamani was also one of the more penetrating runners for Wairarapa-Bush on attack, at least twice catching the opposition defence napping with his speed off the mark and nifty footwork.
It would be fair to say that the Wairarapa-Bush backs did not have quite the same influence on proceedings as did their forwards but, at the same time, they showed enough to suggest that once combinations are settled they could become a very handy attacking unit.
The big plus from this match was clearly the play of the two halfbacks, Matt O'Connor and Inia Katia.
They both provided a slick service to their outsides and varied the direction of play intelligently.
They also broke the first line of defence whenever they decided to have a dab on their own and had the enthusiasm to work as a fourth loose forward when it came to close quarter defence.
You would never have guessed it was the first game at this level for the two of them, so comfortable did they seem.
Zeb Aporo was always sound at first-five and Tipene Haira certainly made a difference when he entered the fray, landing a penalty goal before dropping what was to be the winning field goal. Midfielders Tommy Harmon and Michael Vuicikau had their moments without ever looking entirely at home while Jesse McGilvary was the pick of the wingers. He came off the reserve bench at halftime and featured in a number of strong runs. Dan Porter - who had an off day with his goal kicking - made one useful burst and was sound under the high ball as was Greg Dennes, who showed some nice touches when he moved to fullback later in the game, replacing Nick Olson.The latter had few chances to demonstrate his noted counter-attacking skills but impressed with his positional play. Dennes scored the only try of the match for Wairarapa-Bush about midway through the second half after flanker Johan Vliet had made a powerful run.Tipene Haira kicked a penalty and a dropped goal and Dan Porter kicked one penalty. Ratu Vosaki scored a try for Poverty Bay with Scott Leighton kicking two penalties and one conversion.
Wairarapa-Bush open their 2011 Heartland championship campaign when they play Thames Valley at Memorial Park this Saturday.