Wgtn, Wairarapa win

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 21

Wgtn, Wairarapa win

PA Rotorua The powerful running second five-eighths, John Schuster, grabbed two fine tries in helping Wellington to maintain its unbeaten record in the National Mutual firstdivision rugby championship with a 21-11 win against Bay of Plenty at Rotorua today. Trailing 6-7 at half-time, Wellington burst into life in the opening 20 minutes of the second half to seal the match.

In spite of a second-spell torrential downpour, Wellington controlled the ball superbly, and dominated the scrums and mauls, with Brian McGrattan, Paul McKay and Scott Crichton providing a solid platform. Bay of Plenty’s defence was unable to hold out Wellington, at the vital times in spite of winning its share of

line-outs and vigorous play in the loose.

Schuster and the half-back, Neil Sorenson, had stunning games for Wellington, while the inside backs, Ron Preston and Mark Basham, looked sharp for the Bay. Scorers: Wellington 21 (John Schuster 2, Mike Clamp, tries; Sorenson, 3 conversions, penalty goal). Bay of Plenty 11 (Warren Jennings, Ron Rae, tries; Preston, penalty goal). ® A magnificent forward effort paved the way for Wairarapa-Bush’s 25-9 win over Manawatu at Masterton’s Memorial Park yesterday.

On a ground covered in puddles, Wairarapa-Bush completely eclipsed the Manawatu pack in every facet of the, forward game.

Brent Anderson, Brett Harvey and Chris Kapene were the leaders as the WairarapaBush pack made a meal of possession in the line-outs and mauls, and with the new inside back pairing of Bernard Lett and Phillip Rutene keeping the ball ahead of them, the forwards shut Manawatu right out.

Manawatu was without the All Black, Gary Knight, and his absence was sorely felt. The win was WairarapaBush’s first in the national championship and it is now level with Manawatu at the bottom of the points table. Scorers: Wairarapa-Bush 25 (Phillip Rutene, Motu Tiia, Matthew O’Rourke, tries; Mark Benton, three penalty goals, two conversions), Manawatu 9 (Mark Finlay, tty, penalty goal, conversion). Half-time, 7-7.