Loss of first five proves crushing blow

If there was any doubt about the value of Byron Karaitiana to this year's Wairarapa-Bush rugby team, it was dispelled when he was forced off the paddock at halftime in the Heartland clash against Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin on Saturday.
While one man doesn't make a team, taking one man out of a team can make a crucial difference. There was no doubt with first-five Karaitiana forced out with a damaged shoulder that his absence was a big factor in Wairarapa-Bush losing the match 13-12 after being up 6-0 at halftime.
Karaitiana's tactical kicking in the first half was a major reason why Wairarapa-Bush dominated the first spell.
So dominant were the visitors, in fact, that Horowhenua-Kapiti only made it out of their own half on two occasions. The first was in the opening stages of the game when they took an early crack at goal that missed.
The second was when loose forward Janare Koliavu took a long run down the sideline, broke tackles and kicked inside, only for the ball to be safely touched down behind the goal line by a Wairarapa Bush player.
Other than that, the only sniff Horowhenua-Kapiti got of Wai rarapa Bush territory was when they kicked off after two success ful Karaitiana penalties.
For all their first-half dominance, however, Wairarapa-Bush couldn't get across the tryline.
Wairarapa-Bush battled away for 40 minutes with Karaitiana keeping them on attack with his fine kicking, but a combination of ferocious Horowhenua-Kapiti defence and their own errors meant they couldn't score a try.
They bungled at least two clear chances, one after some deft Karaitiana kicking got them to within 5m of the tryline. From the lineout, Wairarapa bustled their way to centimetres from the tryline only to be pinged by the referee for infringing in the ruck.
Karaitiana managed to kick two out of three penalty attempts to give Wairarapa a deserved, if insufficient, 6-0 lead at halftime.
But talk about a game of two halves. When Karaitiana didn't come back on in the second half, it was like a different team had returned.
Sili Tugaga replaced Karaitiana and within minutes of the game resuming had a penalty opportunity to put Wairarapa further ahead. He didn't just miss the goal, he completely mangled the shot. As it turned out, it proved to be a crucial miss. Within 10 minutes, Horowhenua-Kapiti picked up their first points through a James Proctor penalty, to make it 6-3.
Proctor then levelled the scores in the 19th minute with another penalty before Wairarapa edged ahead again. Nick Olson picked up the kicking duties for Wairarapa and slotted one from just outside the 22m to make it 9-6.
Without Karaitiana directing the ship, however, Wairarapa seemed directionless in the second spell. Because they were unable to rely on his boot, they tried to become more expansive, which didn't work. Horowhenua-Kapiti were able to hustle them into errors and gradually break through what in the first half had been a largely impenetrable line.
With 11 minutes to go, Wairarapa hearts were broken as 130kg Horowhenua-Kapiti prop Rahiri Connor-Johnson, scored after ranging up in support of the ball carrier. Proctor easily converted to take Horowhenua to a 13-9 lead.
Olson slotted another penalty before the end, but Wairarapa were unable to take the scoring any further.
There were positives for Wairarapa Bush.
Their forwards continue to be a major factor. Josh Tua-Davidson, playing at No8 for this match, continues to show terrific form. Thomas Kedrabuka and Andrew McLean were supremely dominant in the lineouts.
Fullback Nick Olson was the star of the backline in the second half.
But this was a match that should have been won by Wairarapa-Bush. It was a classic case of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Scores: Horowhenua 13 (Rahiri Connor-Johnson try, James Proctor, conversion, two penalties) Wairarapa Bush 12 (Karaitiana 2 pens, Olson 2 pens).