Halftime ?rack-up? works

Oldfields Wairarapa-Bush rugby coach Peter Russell admits to giving his team a "rocket" at halftime in their Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy match with a Wellington XV at Memorial Park, Masterton on Tuesday.
Wairarapa-Bush came from 0-19 down at the break to lose the game 26-29, scoring four second half tries to one in the process.
Russell was "very frustrated" by his side's ineptness in several areas in an opening spell which saw a Wellington side containing few, if any, players likely to be part of their NPC campaign, dominant both in terms of territory and possession.
"We were standing back and watching in defensive situations and we were continually turning the ball over on attack??..it was pretty ordinary stuff," he said.
Russell agreed that part of the problem was the struggle his players had in adjusting to the very different tempo of the game from what they were used off at club level.
"They (Wellington) were doing everything at pace and we struggled to keep up," he said. "There weren't the constant stoppages you get in club games ?.everything was a notch or two up from what you see there."
There was no mincing of words from Russell in his halftime team talk, with the players being told in no uncertain fashion they had to show greater commitment and desire.
"They needed a rocket????..it was just going to be a waste of time if we weren't going to be a whole lot more competitive in the second half," he said.
Russell avoided the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side at the break, with the message being that those who had dug the hole for themselves in the first half now had the responsibility of getting themselves out of it in the second.
And he was pleased with the way they responded to that challenge with the forwards, especially, lifting their work rate to a point where they often had the Wellington pack on the back pedal.
Also delighting Russell was the impact several of his reserve players had when they were finally introduced to the action, with some of them performing so well that a few of the so-called first stringers were under pressure to retain their positions in the starting XV.
"It's always good when there is competition amongst the team for places in the side, and we certainly have that in some areas now," he said.
Meanwhile, there will be no premier division games at Memorial Park when inter-club rugby continues in Wairarapa-Bush on Saturday.
The only Masterton-based team playing in town is Pioneer and, as has been the custom, their game has been scheduled for the Park Sportsground where there is no charge for patrons. They will play Martinborough there.
The Paku Cup will be at stake when East Coast and Gladstone clash at Whareama while Greytown-Tuhirangi will host Marist at Pirinoa and Carterton will be at home to Eketahuna.
The full draw for Saturday is:-
Premier division: East Coast v Gladstone, Whareama at 2pm (T.Roseingrave; C.Jefferies); Greytown-Tuhirangi v Marist, Pirinoa at 2.30pm (G.Moorcock; N Burt); Carterton v Eketahuna, Carterton at 2.30pm (A.Stringer; T.Nancekevill); Pioneer v Martinborough, Park Sportsground at 2.30pm (G.Reisima; D.Goodin and M.Brown), Puketoi and Masterton Red Star byes.
President's grade: East Coast v Gladstone,Whareama at 2.30pm (C.Jefferies); Carterton v Eketahuna, Carterton at 1pm (no referee); Pioneer v Masterton Red Star. Park Sportsground at 1pm (D.Goodin); Greytown-Tuhirangi v Marist. Pirinoa at 1pm (N.Burt).
First XV:Rathkeale v Waiopehu, Rathkeale 1 at 1pm (M.Brown); Wairarapa College v Hato Paora, Wairarapa College 1 at 1pm (G.Hall); Kuranui v Mana College, Kuranui at 2.30pm (R.McKay).
Under-15: Wairarapa College v Waiopehu, Wairarapa College 3 at 10am (D.Hands).
Open grade college: Wairarapa Grassroots v Rathkeale 2, Wairarapa College at 11am (B.Whale); Makoura v Kuranui, Makoura at 11am (G.Reisima); Rathkeale colts v Chanel, Rathkeale at 11am (no referee); Wairarapa College 3 a bye.
Junior college: Rathkeale A v Makoura, Rathkeale at 10am (no referee); Chanel v Wairarapa Blue, Chanel at 10am (no referee); Wairarapa Gold v Wairarapa Black, Wairarapa College at 10am (no referee); Kuranui a bye.