Wairarapa-Bush JAB rugby under-11yrs and under-13yrs rugby teams have just completed their best quadrangular tournament ever.
They were both well in contention for overall honours against stern opposition from Hutt Valley, Wanganui and Manawatu before finishing in the runner-up positions.
It was a far from some previous years when Wairarapa-Bush teams were
regularly beaten by 60 points or more.
The under-11s were unbeaten going into their final match against Wanganui but a 0-0 draw there saw Wanganui take the title on a countback of tries scored over the three rounds.
The under-13s also had a draw in their last game, 12-12 against Manawatu, with a charged down conversion perhaps stopping them from finishing at the top of the table.
Scores were.-
Under -11s:: Wairarapa-Bush 50 ( T. Paku 2, J Colton, J.Doherty, N.Ewe 2, J.Mason and Probens tries), Hutt Valley 35; Wairarapa-Bush 14 (T.Roberts, J.Mason tries), Manawatu 7; Wairarapa-Bush 0, Wanganui 0.
Under-13s: Hutt Valley 43, Wairarapa-Bush 14 ( TJ Campbell , S Harpham tries; T.Tafa two conversions); Wairarapa-Bush 5 (S.Harpham try), Wanganui 0; Wairarapa-Bush 12 (J.Nicho 2 tries; T.Tafa conversion) Manawatu 12.
While delighted with the success of the Wairarapa-Bush teams JAB officials are not resting on their laurels with local delegate Gary Warren saying there was still plenty to work on in 2006. He did, however, express satisfaction at the progress made, attributing it in no small way to the encouragement provided by Wairarapa-Bush rugby development officer Lofty Stevenson.
Stevenson, for his part, deflected praise back to the JAB, noting that their strategic and business plans were having a positive effect. "They have looked at themselves honestly, sorted out what they needed to do to get their organisation operating effectively and gone ahead and done it," Stevenson said.
JAB vice-president Michael Taylor agrees that the implementation of a business plan has worked wonders for junior rugby in Wairarapa-Bush. "It was a lengthy process but the rewards make it worthwhile," he said.
