Waverley no match for Ohakune

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 4, 23 June 1987, Page 16

Waverley no match for Ohakune

What a weekend of Rugby. New Zealand wins the first World Cup as they "blow the French off Eden Park". Raetihi Senior Reserves suffer another default and Waiouru Seniors default to Bulls because of injuries and others go on leave. In the early game on Rochfort Park the Ohakune under-19 team had an excellent win over Technical College Old Boys with a disruptive game against the competition leading the TCOB team of Wanganui. Dominating lineout play in the bad conditions, Ohakune won 8-0 with Andrew Wilde and Jason Hern having excellent games. In the Ruapehu College v Collegiate 2 at the college, the first fifteen had a 15-6 loss to Wanganui Collegiate 2. Ruapehu still has a slight discipline and attitude problem but with a bit of help from Coach Marsh and Ken George they should get their act together soon. The second fifteen however had an excellent win against Collegiate 4ths 58-0. It looks promising for the Australian Tour by the netball and rugby teams for 1988. Remember the last Australian Tour in 1979. Three Wanganui Reps and one Colt eventuated from

that 1st fifteen. Do we have future stars in these teams? Ohakune Senior Resserve v Armoured - in bad conditions Ohakune went down to the Waiouru team 6-14. Ohakune dominated most of the lineouts but the backs were unable to do very much. Armoured is too good a team. I watched the main game at Rochfort Park with the lowly ranking Waverley team clearly no match for Ohakune. It was a better turnout by Ohakune players even if Cranston and Kellick Harding were sidelined with injury. Richard Mathews started the scoring with the first of his two tries with an excellent try involving many of the forwards and minutes later young Griffen scored after a brilliant break made by Lachland Harding as he came through the backline from fullback. Though it is said that Ohakune need to practise more constructive play, their support is a pleasure to watch and some of their seven tries were like 'poetry in motion'. Graeme Pike is by far the best prop in the Union as could Steven Gordon be in his position if he was iftter. With most of the players of last year back and a few weeks rebuilding, they should give our friends from Wanganui HSOB one hell of a fright ina the next round. Tries were scored by Griffen, Harding, Brown, Manson, Gordon and Mathews 2. Ray Brown had an excellent game at first five as did Steve Cameron and Richard Mathews. Ex-Ohakune player Mark Watchman and Wanganui Colt Centre Rodger Byam had excellent games for Waverley. The Centre created some good breaks but the rest of the team failed to finish the movements off.

For Ohakune the sevei? tries along with the five conversions by Harding, t}ie score was 38-0. "Lineout" Raetihi v Marton Old Boys Joining the usual staunch home crowd of Raetihi supporters I braved the elements to watch Raetihi perform against the highly rated Marton side. All predictions placing the home side in the proverbial "underdog box". The first half contained some brief spectacular moments of offensive and defensive play from both sides but nothing to write home to Ron Don about. Half time score 3-0 to Marton. Seven minutes into the second half, the score increased to 6-0 with Raetihi maintaining the balance with good agressive forward play. Highlights of the game were provided by the

mobility of MOB's loose forward trio consisting of Wanganui Reps, the Hansen brothers powering downfield, the skilful kicking of Raetihi's Nigel Ruki and some devastating tackling from a fired up front row forward cum back, James Renata. Ten minutes to full time saw a radical turn in the tide, when MOB lead by their mobile loose forwards scored three consecutive tries, taking the full time score to 22-0. Of notable mention also is frisky Raetihi loose forward Chris Bennett, whose ability to be in two places at once wins him my vote for player of the day. This game saw the return of David Brown after a two year lay-off from rugby. All in all a very basic game containing good effort and determination from Raetihi in face of the odds, going down in the final moments after a fine resurgence from the Marton side. "Lineout 2"