Satisfying win for Wairarapa-Bush

Wairarapa-Bush had good reason to feel satisfied with their 26-3 win over New Zealand Defence Forces in a rugby match played at Memorial Park, Masterton yesterday.
It wasn't a perfect performance by any means but considering the arctic-like conditions, the fact it was their first serious hit-out of the season and they were up against a more-than-useful opposition there would have been excuses for it being a lot worse.
While the rain stayed away for much of the match the iciness of the wind meant both sides deserved gold medals for actually seeing out the full 80 minutes let alone providing some entertaining action.
Whereas the temptation must have been to play a forward-orientated game in elements which didn't exactly suit free-flowing rugby there was regular movement of the ball through the backs, and some promising attacks were mounted.
Yes, some of the passing and handling was not all it should be but these errors were probably as much due to the coldness of the hands as any technical deficiencies.
Wairarapa-Bush played into the wind in the first spell and would have been delighted to go to the halftime break with a 6-3 advantage, courtesy of two Byron Karaitiana penalties to a penalty by Adrian Curry for the Defence Forces.
Another Karaitiana penalty early in the second half eased Wairarapa-Bush out to a 9-3 lead and then came a typically spectacular try by replacement No 8 Nathan Rolls.
He gathered the ball about 40m out, crashed his way past two defenders, dummied his way past another couple and crossed the line untouched.
Karaitiana converted and Wairarapa-Bush led 16-3.
A fourth Karaitiana penalty stretched the margin to 19-3 before an attempt by the Defence Forces to run the ball from their own line ended in Wairarapa-Bush second-five Tommy Harmon, who had replaced the injured Heemi Tupaea in the first half, regaining possession and diving for the try.
Karaitiana converted and the final whistle sounded with Wairarapa-Bush ahead 26-3.
The Wairarapa-Bush forwards did have the odd hassle in the scrum, more so in the first half than in the second, and botched a lineout throw or three but generally there was a pleasing solidity about their play.
Prop Kurt Simmonds, in his debut game as skipper, not only worked away diligently in the tighter phases of the game but was prominent about the paddock as well, and the same could be said of fellow prop Brett Rudman and hooker Willie Leota, who was a hard man to stop whenever he had ball in hand.
There was a lot to like too about the mobility and enthusiasm of one of the new faces, Mick Bevan, who came on at prop in the second half and made an immediate impression. His aggression on the charge brought back memories of the late Chris "Moose" Kapene, high praise indeed!
Locks Andrew McLean and Brandon Young were the main "go to" players at lineout time for Wairarapa-Bush and they complemented their sound efforts there with some hard graft in the mauls.
The most impressive aspect of the Wairarapa-Bush forward play, however, was the efficiency of their loosies on both attack and defence.
Flankers Joss Tua-Davidson and Jared Hawkins were here, there and everywhere, with Davidson especially effective in broken play.
He was seldom halted by the first tackle.
The two No 8s used, Duncan Law and Nathan Rolls, both had fine games too with Law making some penetrating runs in close quarter situations and Rolls at his most effective when roaming wide.
His try was worth the price of admission alone.
The main interest in the backs focused on the ability of the new inside combination of Zeb Aporo and Byron Karaitiana to call the shots accurately and quickly.
There were occasions when their judgment was awry but overall they came through a testing assignment with their reputations enhanced. Karaitiana's goal kicking is clearly another string to his bow.
In the midfield no one could quibble at the soundness of Sam Mitchell on the tackle and the determination of Tommy Harmon whenever even a hint of a gap appeared and Nick Olson made a couple of useful runs on the wing. And at fullback Jason Kjestrup generally did the right thing at the right time.