Rugby
By Gary Caffell
The Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Referees Association is reminding clubs and colleges that under an NZRFU directive it is compulsory for all players to wear mouthguards.
"Referees are directed to send from the field any player not wearing a mouthguard ... no ifs, no buts," association spokesman Peter Debney said yesterday. "Basically it is no mouthguard, no game."
Debney said players sent from the field for a mouthguard discretion could not be replaced for 10 minutes and repeated offending could result in a red card being issued for dissent.
With Greytown already having the Chris Kapene Memorial Cup in safe keeping, results of final round matches in that competition tomorrow will be of no more than academic interest. Well, maybe Martinborough could be the exception to that rule as they sit second on the points table and get to host Greytown. Of course a win wouldn't hand Martinborough the trophy dedicated to one of their favourite sons but they might see it as giving them some sort of psychological edge going into the main championship, the Tui Cup.
In other matches tomorrow Bush Sports will play Marist at Pahiatua, East Coast will take on Eketahuna at Whareama and Gladstone and Carterton will do battle at Gladstone. Pioneer have the bye.
Last Saturday saw the local derby between Bush Sports and Eketahuna in the senior reserves grade and from all reports it was a good exhibition of free-flowing rugby. Tries and penalties were traded as each team threatened to take control and Bush Sports would have been fancying their chances of victory when they went out to a 21-17 lead with just six minutes left. Then with time almost up, Eketahuna forced their way over for the match-winning try. A drop-kick conversion was also successful and Eketahuna took the honours 24-21.
That match was followed by the premier division clash for the Cowan Cup between the same teams and Eketahuna took advantage of the breeze to lead 15-5 at halftime thanks to tries by Zac Wilkie and Dan Griffin and a penalty and conversion by Tom Meuli. In the second half the Bush forwards upped the ante and applied pressure on the Eketahuna line but Eketahuna posted first points on the board when from one of their excursions into opposition territory former Canterbury representative Sam Monaghan regathered his chip kick and scored a try, giving his side a commanding 20-5 advantage.
Bush were not done, however. They stormed downfield and despite some desperate Eketahuna defence closed the gap to 20-12 when Adam Mabey scored close to the posts and Jordan Bennett-Davies converted.
That was the end of the scoring action in what was a well contested match.
While on the subject of Bush, disappointment has been expressed from rugby folk up that way that the Wairarapa v Bush match, usually played on Queen's Birthday Monday, would not be staged this season, apparently due to Wairarapa not having enough time to prepare. Our correspondent from further north presumes there will be a cup handing-over ceremony at the next Bush v Eketahuna match to be played at Pahiatua on July 13.
The full draw for Wairarapa-Bush rugby tomorrow is:
Premier division: Bush Sports v Marist, Pahiatua at 2.30pm (D Adams; E Wallace and P Baucke); East Coast v Eketahuna, Whareama at 2.30pm (P Thompson; A Stringer and B Whale); Gladstone v Carterton, Gladstone at 2.30pm (B Hudson, Wellington; S Newson and D Whitcombe); Martinborough v Greytown, Martinborough at 2.30pm (S O'Gorman; C Jefferies and J Head).
Senior reserves: Bush Sports v Tuhirangi, Pahiatua at 1pm (E Wallace); East Coast v Eketahuna, Whareama at 1pm (A Stringer); Pioneer v Masterton Red Star, Memorial Park at 1pm (D Goodin); Gladstone v Carterton, Gladstone at 1pm (S Newson, Wellington); Martinborough v Greytown, Martinborough at 1pm (C Jefferies).
Manawatu colts: Eketahuna v Freyberg, Eketahuna at 1pm (S Andrew).
Secondary schools: Wairarapa seconds v PNBHS fourths, Wairarapa College at 1pm (G Moorcock; K Lochhead and G McKeown); Wairarapa under-15s v PNBHS under-14s, Wairarapa College at 9.50am (J Head).
College open grade: Rathkeale seconds v Makoura firsts, Rathkeale at 11.15am (G Hall).
College junior grade: Makoura v Rathkeale Green, Makoura at 10am (B Whale); Chanel v Wairarapa Blue, Chanel at 10am (G McKeown, Wellington); Rathkeale 15 v Rathkeale White, Rathkeale at 10am (P Baucke); Wairarapa Gold v Kuranui, Wairarapa at 10am (K Lochhead).