Loss just a wake-up call

There's nothing like a shock loss to test the character and resolve of any sporting side.
Generally either of two things will happen; it spurs them to a top-notch performance next time up, or they become so mentally scarred that defeat quickly becomes the norm.
So which way will the Wairarapa-Bush rugby side go?
Their loss to Buller, in their opening NPC third division game in Westport last weekend, certainly rated in the shock category.
After all, whereas Wairarapa-Bush were runners-up to Poverty Bay for the third division title in 2004, Buller had finished at the very bottom of the competition table.
On paper at least it was a match which could only have one winner, and it very clearly wasn't Buller.
But what should happen, and what does happen, are often very different things in the world of sport, and it was Buller who had their noses in front by 29-14 when the final whistle sounded.
For those who weren't at the game it was an unbelievable result.
Indeed this writer fielded a couple of phone calls the morning after from diehard Wairarapa-Bush fans, who had read it in the Sunday newspapers, and who were ringing to confirm that those papers had got it wrong. Unfortunately, however, they hadn't.
In later discussions with coach Peter Russell, it became clear that Wairarapa-Bush had created enough prime scoring chances through the course of the game to win by a country mile.
But, frustratingly, they had murdered at least five tries, and thus had only themselves to blame for the loss.
Human nature being what it is, we now have the situation where many so-called Wairarapa-Bush supporters are expousing messages of doom and gloom.
Lose to Buller, lose to everyone, seems to be their train of thought.
Well, I for one am definitely not in that court.
The Wairarapa-Bush side contains enough hard-nosed characters, among both their playing and management team, to react positively to what ,at this early stage of the season, can fairly be classified as no more than a minor setback.
And, what's more, they very definitely have the talent and the skill levels to not only send Horowhenua-Kapiti packing in their match at Memorial Park this Saturday, but also to issue a powerful challenge for overall honours in the third division series.
It's my belief that come the end of the NPC season we will be looking back on that Buller result as a blessing in disguise.
A result, which in one felll swoop, ironed out any signs of complacency in the Wairarapa-Bush camp, and instilled in them a determination to play winning rugby on a regular basis.
So for those of us who like the odd punt get down to your local TAB, and grab what should be generous odds for Wairarapa-Bush to be third division champions in 2005.
Go on ?. do it!