Three clubs pull out of top comp

FLASHBACK TO 2013: Successful Greytown captain Tapaga Isaac holds aloft the Tui Cup after his side beat Eketahuna in the final.PHOTO/FILE

The Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's premier division competition is down to eight teams.

A tentative draw published last month allowed for 11 teams to start the 2014 season in the top grade, but Puketoi was an early withdrawal and Masterton Red Star and Bush Sports have since followed suit.

All three of these clubs cite player shortages as the major reason for their predicament although Masterton Red Star and Bush Sports will be fielding sides in the senior reserve grade.

Not so the Pongaroa-based Puketoi club, which has essentially gone into recess.

For Masterton Red Star, it is the second successive season they have failed to come up with a premier division side and the loss of Bush Sports comes just two seasons after they were welcomed into the Wairarapa-Bush competition after previously playing their rugby in Manawatu.

Puketoi started at premier division level last season, but withdrew after a spate of defaults. In the "good old days", they were a sub-union in their own right with clubs from the likes of Weber, Pongaroa and Tiraumea regularly taking part in their competitions.

With the downsizing to eight teams also comes a new competition format. The main championship will now be played over two complete rounds with the top four sides going forward to the Tui Cup semifinals and the bottom four contesting the premier reserve semis. The leading side at the end of the first round will, as usual, be adjudged the winners of the Chris Kapene Memorial Cup.

WBRFU council of clubs chairman Tim Nathan praised the goodwill and co-operation of the clubs in making the premier division competition meaningful and fit for the purpose.

"There was no blunt approach, but a series of processes that helped clubs establish where they are at," he said. "For the first time in years, we have a competition ready to go on time and no surprises lurking."

Nathan said all clubs were aware that the setting up of under-21 teams and the focusing on good administration structures was vital if they, and the sport in general, was to grow and several had indicated they were already making progress in that regard.

Also seen as crucial for growth is the investment made into college rugby by the WBRFU through the forthcoming appointments of directors of rugby within three colleges: Chanel, Makoura and Kuranui.

This move came after WBRFU rugby development officer Stacey Grant presented a case to NZRFU who agreed with the concept and agreed to fund the project. Rathkeale College and Wairarapa College, along with women's rugby, will also get additional support.

If the national hierarchy are happy with the results of their investment, it is likely they will provide similar assistance to other Heartland unions.

The new Kapene Cup draw is:

April 5: Eketahuna v Carterton at Eketahuna, Gladstone v Pioneer at Gladstone, Greytown v Marist at Greytown, Martinborough v East Coast at Martinborough.

April 12: Greytown v Carterton at Greytown, Marist v Gladstone at Memorial Park, Martinborough v Eketahuna at Martinborough, Pioneer v East Coast at Jeans St.

April 17: Gladstone v Eketahuna at Gladstone, Carterton v Marist at Carterton, East Coast v Greytown at Whareama, Pioneer v Martinborough at Jeans St.

April 26: Carterton v Gladstone at Carterton, Eketahuna v East Coast at Eketahuna, Greytown v Martinborough at Greytown, Marist v Pioneer at Memorial Park.

May 3: East Coast v Gladstone at Whareama, Eketahuna v Greytown at Eketahuna, Martinborough v Marist at Martinborough, Pioneer v Carterton at Jeans St.

May 10: Carterton v Martinborough at Carterton, East Coast v Marist at Whareama, Gladstone v Greytown at Gladstone, Pioneer v Eketahuna at Jeans St.

May 17: East Coast v Carterton at Whareama, Greytown v Pioneer at Greytown, Marist v Eketahuna at Memorial Park, Martinborough v Gladstone at Martinborough.