Wairarapa-Bush showed some encouraging signs in a 30-25 loss to New Zealand Universities in a rugby match before a small crowd at Memorial Park, Masterton, yesterday.
The home team went in on a limited preparation and were generally expected to be outgunned by a Universities combination set to play their Japan counterparts in four days, but gave every bit as good as they got.
It was, in fact, Wairarapa-Bush who called the tune early and an upset victory looked on the cards when they raced to a 17-5 lead. However, Universities struck back to even things up at 20-20 before scoring two quick tries to lead 30-20.
The closing stages were all Wairarapa-Bush and a try with two minutes left closed the gap to 30-25. And they seemed to have snatched at least a draw on fulltime when midfielder Jesse McGilvary grabbed an intercept and touched down, only for referee Andrew Stringer, after consulting his assistant, to rule the ball had gone forward from a Wairarapa-Bush hand before McGilvary pounced.
Several Wairarapa-Bush players made the most of their chance to push for selection in the Heartland championship squad.
Two of the big finds from the 2011 campaign, flankers Johan Van Vliet and James Goodger, were prominent, Van Vliet for his strong tackling and aggressive scrapping for loose ball and Goodger for the power of his running in broken play.
Locks Andrew McLean and Lachie McFadzean did good work in the lineouts and impressed with their mobility and there was a lot to like about the assertiveness of front rowers Kurt Simmonds, Wilba Davies, Jamie Hunt and Eric Fry. The latter was part of the United States squad at last year's Rugby World Cup and was a hard man to stop with ball in hand.
Promising youngsters Matt O'Connor and Cody Whittaker were given stints at halfback for Wairarapa-Bush and both were seen in a favourable light. They provided a snappy service and were sound in their option taking.
At first-five Tipene Haira continued the solid form he had shown on the club scene while of the midfielders Jessie McGilvary was excellent value on attack and defence and Jim Temoci left his mark with a powerful 20m surge for a try.
Newcomer Cameron Heyton had few attacking opportunities on the wing but defended solidly, and Guy Wood and Nick Olson impressed at fullback, Wood for his positional play and Olson for his counter-attacking skills.
New Zealand Universities were probably not as clinical as they would have liked in their finishing work and also showed obvious deficiencies on defence.
Dominic Bird, Rob Foreman and Callum Gibbs shone for them up front with halfback Sam Marshall and midfielder David McLean the pick of the Universities' backs.
The Wairarapa-Bush points came from tries to Jim Temoci, Kieran te Whare and Nick Olson and two conversions and two penalties (one from 50m) by Tipene Haira.