Rugby news with 'Lineout'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 3, 16 June 1987, Page 16

Rugby news with 'Lineout'

Rugby this weekend took the form of local rugby being played all over the region. The Ruapehu College team travelled to Marton where they played Rangtikei College 1st fifteen. Ten minutes from the start of the game the Rangitikei fullback landed a penalty after which Regan Sue replied with a penalty goal ten minutes later. The first half of the game was evenly matched and unlike last week, was played in excellent spirit. The half time score was three all. After half time Ruapehu played with the wind and apart from a dropped goal from Sue were never able to use the wind to their advantage. A lack of fitness with many of the Ruapehu players soon told and the Rangitikei players were able to capitalise with two tries within the last five minutes adding one conversion. The final score was 13-6 to Rangitikei. Ohakune Under-19 v Waverley Under-19 The Ohakune Under-19 team are obviously not very good travellers, they went to Waverley and were quite soundly beaten 64-0. Henry Tehuia was given "Man of the Match" for his hard tackling but Ohakune Coach Swain was pleased as usual with ihe team because they did not lose heart and had only 13 players left on the field by the end of the game. In Taihape on the main ground I watched Raetihi play Huia and Waiouru play Pirates. Raetihi went to Taihape short of a few key players but played a very gutsy game against Huia. For the first 15 minutes it looked to be a pretty even

encounter. But then Paul Heranui set the ball rolling towards a 31-6 win for Huia. Scores were made by Heranui, Chase, McCarthy, Thompson, Bennion and Cox for Huia and all conversions by Heranui. Fahey for Raetihi kicked two penalties for Raetihi I do bclieve t'vat Chrif Bennett has got to be one of the top n^nkcra in the area., So fast is he off the mark he broke down a lot of Huia's planned movements. The Huia backs complained that they were sick of having him breathing down their necks. In their own words he was "dynamic". Waiouru v Pirates Over in the other field I watched a very young Waiouru team play thei: hearts out against a revitalised Pirates team. Steve Tipene had to be carried off the field ten minutes from the start with suspected broken ribs. By half-time the score was 4-3 to Waiouru aiid 10 minutes from the start of the second half Bojo Kerekau went over for a try taking the score to 8-3 to Waiouru. Then Pirates

replied with an excellent pushover taking the score to 8-7 and then a rampage by Pirates to eventually win by 20 points to 12. It was disappointing to see the excellent backline of Morehu Maunsell and recently returned former North Wanganui Rep player Charles Steedman do very little with the ball. But one movement did pay off for Waiouru when Moody scored from a brilliant corner kick. It is interesting to note that there are five 19-year olds in the team with heaps of guts. Player Profile of the Week Wiremu Maunsell born in Whakatane aged 20 years. Up until he attended St Stephen's Boys College, Bombay, his main sport was -volleyball. He was an allrounder but found softball his worst sport. While attending St Stephen's he learned the basics of rugby along with a couple of local boys under the watchful eye of Coach Brewen. He made the first fifteen in 1983 and the Counties under- 16 team as well as the Counties School Boys. By

1984 he was in most provincial age teams and the Northern Regions School Boys team from thence to the North Island Under-18's. He was honoured by being invited to play for the Auckland B arbarians and Auckland Cavaliers teams because he was one of the most promising players in the Auckland area. He made the New Zealand Secondary Schools' team and toured the United Kingdom and France in the 1984-85 seasons as well as being in the team against Australia School Boys' in 1984-85. He toured the UK and France as a member of the St Stephen's Rugby and Concert Party in 1985-86. They won all their games. As an Officer Cadet at the Waiouru Officer Cadet School he graduates as second Lieutenant this Wednesday 17 June. He leaves this area in October but returns in january as an officer. The very shy and humble soldier who is not happy with his rugby at present is a member of the Wanganui Senior Rep team. Ohakune Snrs v Wanganui High School OB Ohakune travelled down to Spriggens Park to what was expected to be a very hard fought match. With the return of their excellent loosies Richard Mathews and Steve Cameron, Ohakune put a lot of pressure on the WHSOB first five Maua. Both Cranston and Kellick Harding left the field through injuries and they were both badly missed. Ohakune's only points came from a penalty goal from Lachlan Harding with

WHOB points coming from a good backline effort resulting in a try by Daniel Wiremu. Dion Maua dropped a goal and added a penalty. Final score was 10-3 to WHOB.