The biggest rugby challenge for Wairarapa-Bush on this winter's agenda is over and has been settled very firmly in favour of Ranfurly Shield holders Wellington but statistically all was not lost for the home team.
History will record Wairarapa-Bush lost by a whopping 90-19 but it should also record our team
of 2009 scored more tries, and more points, in a Ranfurly Shield match than it had in any like encounter in the past 80 years.
The previous best effort had been way back in 1929 when Wairarapa scored eight tries in its 37-16 triumph over Manawhenua.
Another statistic worth remembering is that in its dubbing of the home side Wellington finally equalled Wairarapa's record of 13 tries in a shield match, after 82 years of trying.
The Wairarapa record was set in 1927 with a 13 try feast that was part of its 53-3 thrashing of Bush.
Statistically the crowd that attended this week's match would have matched up very competitively with crowds in past years, with an estimated 4000 spectators at the game.
Of late only warm-up games against Super 12 and Super 14 sides would have been able to match that attendance figure.
Wairarapa-Bush chief executive Phil Taylor has confirmed the district will again be hosting two teams in warm-up games for next year's Super 15 competition.
Both the Hurricanes and the Brumbies are scheduled to play at Memorial Park.
The Hurricanes match will be in February but no firm date has yet been set for the encounter against the Brumbies.
