Heartland shakedown a worthwhile exercise

As a shakedown for their 2010 Heartland championship programme Wairarapa-Bush's 32-26 loss to Poverty Bay in their Jeremy David Memorial trophy
representative rugby match at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday was a worthwhile exercise.
The new look home team trailed by 22-5 at the break after
being mesmerised by the flair and pace of a Poverty Bay rearguard
seemingly chockful of attacking talent but it was a completely dif
ferent story in the second spell when many of the old guard were
introduced to the fray.
Then it was Wairarapa-Bush who called the tune in both territory and possession and they ``won'' that 40-minute battle by an 11-point margin, not quite enough
to turn what had seemed likely to be a hefty defeat into victory but
certainly enough to suggest that a bold showing in the Heartland
championship is well within their scope.
Remembering that Poverty Bay were Meads Cup semifinalists last
year when they beat Wairarapa-Bush twice.
It was the uncertainty of their backline defence which was
Wairarapa-Bush's biggest headache throughout the first half on
Saturday. Too often they allowed the Poverty Bay backs to work up
a full head of steam, invariably through failing to make their first
tackles count , and the Bay showed their appreciation by run
ning in four tries through a mix of individual and collective brilliance.
What made the halftime score look even worse for Wairarapa-
Bush was that it came after a relatively even battle up front. Hard-
working locks Daniel Griffin and Andrew McLean had ensured they
won most of their own lineout ball and were both mobile around the
paddock, the scrum was solid and hooker Richard Puddy, flanker
Hamish Walker and No8 and captain John McFadzean were indus
trious in the loose.
For the backs, however, it was a tough day at the office. Experi
enced campaigner James Bruce was his normal cheeky self at half
back and there were a couple of strong bursts in midfield by Sam
Mitchell but generally there was a disappointing tentativeness about
their play, not only on defence but also on attack where the passing
was sluggish and everything  was in slow motion
The number of changes made to the Wairarapa-Bush line-up
straight after halftime probably ran into double figures and with
most of their more seasoned performers on the field the level of
intensity lifted by several notches.
For the first 15 minutes or so they hammered the Poverty Bay
line and while the visitors, who admittedly made several changes
themselves to their starting XV, did recover their composure they
seldom had the chance to set their backs alight, so little quality ball
did they obtain.
Of those forwards coming off the reserve bench two of the most
impressive for Wairarapa-Bush were front rowers Dylan Higgison
and Kurt Simmonds, who used their strength to telling effect in
the scrums and mauls, and there was a lot to like about the aggressiveness of lock Brandon Young and loosies Duncan Law and
Tommy Sargent.
Interestingly, newcomer Hamish Walker was retained on
the openside flank and continued to impress with his high workrate.
The big improvement for Wairarapa-Bush in the second half
though came in the backs. Suddenly there was a confidence
which hadn't been there before and with fullback Nick Olson lead
ing the way they started to find holes in the Poverty Bay defence.
Olson was dynamic on the counter attack and  pulled off an
interception close to his own line late in the game and sprinted all of
90 metres for the try. Heemi Tupaea was lively at centre, half
back Api Matenga was quick and accurate with his pass and while
young wing Jesse McGilvary had limited attacking chances he
impressed with his willingness to go looking for work.
Olson's try actually took  Wairarapa-Bush to within the one
converted try of victory and just seconds later they came close to
scoring again when wing Joseva Naivalu was put into the clear
with just the one defender to beat but he was held up short.
It was that sort of game for the Fijian flyer who had his handling
problems in both halves, once dropping the ball with the line
open. However, he also showed glimpses of his ability to make
room for himself through tricky footwork, a skill which could make
him a potential match winner as the season progresses.
Wellington ``import''Junior Togia was also expected to appear
on the wing this weekend but he was not available and
could have his first game for the province  against Wellington
Samoans at Memorial Park next Saturday, the last hit out for
Wairarapa-Bush before they begin their Heartland programme
against Buller in Westport on August 28.
Poverty Bay produced the player of the David Trophy match
in exciting winger Tom Teaki who ran in three tries and looked dangerous every time he got his hands on the ball while No8 Karl Gemmell-Clark and hooker and
skipper Ngarimu Simpkins took the eye in the pack. That they will again be among the Meads Cup front runners seems assured.
Tom Teaki (3), John Stewart (2) and Whimotu Craft-Chemis scored tries for Poverty Bay and Tim Gardner landed one conversion.
Try scorers for Wairarapa-Bush were Brendan Walker, Brandon Young, Tommy Sargent and Nick Olson and Byron Karaitiana kicked three conversions.
The curtain-raiser match  was a senior reserves match between
North Wairarapa and South Wairarapa which ended in a 15-15
draw.