Southerners mauled despite 2nd-half lapse

How can you complain about a 41- 3 thumping of an opposition side widely expected to be one of your main dangers for NPC third division rugby honours early next month?
That was the question being asked after Wairarapa-Bush's six try to none blitz of South Canterbury at Memorial Park, Masterton on Saturday.
Remarkable as the final scoreline was, in a match which was generally expected to go down to the wire, it wasn't as entirely convincing a victory as the bare result would suggest.
Not that South Canterbury deserved any better, simply that the first half effort produced by Wairarapa-Bush was several notches above that they provided in the second.
Indeed so impressive were the home team in an opening 40 minutes, which saw them rack up 26 points and guarantee themselves a bonus point by scoring four tries, that a winning margin of at least 50, and probably 60 or 70, looked well and truly on the cards.
Once a few teething problems in the scrums had been sorted out, there was no area of the game where Wairarapa-Bush were not a class, and more, above their opposition.
The forwards were ferocious in their rucking and mauling, skilfully efficient at lineout time and absolutely dynamic in the loose, and South Canterbury simply had no answer to them.
And it was the same in the backs. The slick passing, clever changes of direction, deceptive running and superb support play had the visitors doing little more than chasing shadows on numerous occasions.
So going into the second half there seemed little hope of any respite for a South Canterbury side whose morale was clearly at rock bottom, and who were, in reality, playing the second 40 minutes for nothing more than pride.
As it happened, however, the exchanges throughout this half were evenly contested, not through South Canterbury lifting their performance, but because Wairarapa-Bush dropped theirs by several notches.
With referee Lyndon Bray continually finding fault with them, especially in the tackle situation, the penalties came thick and fast . And if that was not enough to slow the earlier momentum, the fact they too often lost their structure and composure only made things worse.
There was a frustrating recklessness about some of the passing, ball was spilled in tackles and the urgency which had been such a feature of the first half effort simply wasn't there.
An opposition on top of their game would have been quick to take toll of Wairarapa-Bush's second half struggles, but South Canterbury were clearly having a bad day at the office.
They did manage to create the odd try scoring opportunity, but inept passing and handling skills meant these came to nothing and left them with just the sole penalty goal to show for their efforts at the game's end.
Several of the Wairarapa-Bush players captured the attention in that rip-roaring first half, none more so than halfback James Bruce, who was terrier like on both attack and defence.
He boxed well above his weight every time he sniped around the fringes of the rucks and mauls, and he often spoiled opposition scrum ball through the pressure he placed on their No.8-halfback combination.
At second-five Nathan Couch starred in three electrifying breaks, one of which saw him dummy his way past a bevy of defenders before sending centre Simanu Simanu over for the try.
Simanu also impressed with his thrust on attack and aggressive defence, and fullback Bart Viguurs showed pace on attack and a good positional sense.
Up front there was plenty to admire in the all-round skills of hooker Rob Foreman, who not only did his share of work in the tight, but was like a fourth loose forward in broken play, Lock Tomasi Kedarabuka was his usual potent force at lineout time, skipper Mike Robinson would have got any award for sheer hard graft and No.8 Sylvanus Iro was a willing workhorse at first receiver at both scrum and maul time.
Very few of the Wairarapa-Bush players would have been satisfied with their second half efforts, collectively or individually.
Viguurs at fullback did continue to distinguish himself with some fine defensive work, first-five Patrick Rimene displayed commendable coolness under pressure, and prop Dylan Higgison was typically industrious in the darker recesses of the forward battle. But overall it was a half in which the drop in standard was alarmingly obvious.
That said, however, the size of the winning margin is sure to see Wairarapa-Bush being widely touted as the team to beat for the third division championship. They play lowly placed Thames Valley home next weekend and another five points there should guarantee them a semi-final spot, at least.