Trio vie for Player of Year award

John Stevenson, left, Kingi Kaiwai, and Joseph Thompson have been outstanding for their clubs this season.

TWO inside backs and a loose forward are the finalists for the Pat Shannahan Trophy Premier Division Player of the Year award at the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's awards dinner to be held at Copthorne Solway Park in Masterton tomorrow evening.

Greytown first-five Kingi Kaiwai, Pioneer halfback Joseph Thompson and Gladstone No 8 John Stevenson will do battle after displaying outstanding form at club level over the 2015 season.

Kaiwai's sound decision-making was an integral part of Greytown's impressive run which eventually saw them crowned Tui Cup champions last weekend while Thompson made a grand fist of his debut season as captain of the Pioneer side. He starred in general play and as a goal-kicker.

Stevenson was typically uncompromising at the back of the Gladstone scrum, both on attack and defence.

The three finalists for the Rutene Family Trophy for the College Player of the Year are Bruce Kauika-Peterson of Wairarapa College, Cameron Ravenwood of Wairarapa College and Ueta Tufuga-Piopa of Rathkeale College while the Mrs McPhee Trophy for Women's Premier Player of the Year is between three members of this season's Eketahuna line-up, Kaylah Clarke-Winiata, Kahli Tipene and Samantha Tipene. Finalists for the Kingi Matthews Trophy for Maori Player of the Year are Nikora Ewe (Pioneer), Kingi Kaiwai (Greytown) and Byron Karaitiana (Greytown).

Three rugby identities are in the reckoning for the David Galvin Trophy for Senior Administrator of the Year - Michelle Beaver (Marist), Pam Holmes (Greytown) and Garry Smith (Carterton), and finalists for the Ron Hughes Trophy for Junior Administrator of the Year are Rachael Colton (Martinborough), Brent McGlashan (Masterton Red Star) and Deon van Deventer (Rathkeale College).

The Lane Penn Trophy is for Coach of the Year and the three contenders are Sid Tatana (Tuhirangi), Steve Thompson (Gladstone) and Victor Thompson (Pioneer).

The massive amount of work done by volunteers in rugby is marked by the Farry McLeod Trophy for Volunteer of the Year and taking centre stage in this category will be Morrie Holmes (Greytown), Colin Hutchby (Marist) and George Rodger (Carterton).

Finalists for the Eric Kenny Trophy for Personality of the Year are Neil Morison (Greytown), Graham Pederson (Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Supporters Club) and Wiremu Wolland (Eketahuna).

Three of the union's top referees, Chris Jefferies, Shay O'Gorman and Alistair Payne, have a chance of winning the Baden Whale Trophy for Referee of the Year and the Sir Brian Lochore Trophy supreme award for Club of the Year has Gladstone, Greytown and Marist as the three finalists.

Individual awards to be announced on the night are the Bob Francis Trophy for Best and Fairest, the Patrick Rimene Trophy for top points-scorer in the premier division grade and the Manuera (Ben) Riwai-Couch Trophy for top try-scorer in the premier division grade.