We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union.
We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 1973 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

Wairarapa-Bush won five of its 11-match programme, all of which were gained on its own territory. Its largest win -— by the handsome margin of twenty points — was against the touring Victorian team where the home backs proved far superior. The emphasis on spinning the ball resulted in the backs scoring 19 of the side’s 21 tries in the eight matches when the opposition’s line was crossed. Although down 10 to 3 at half-time, Wairarapa-Bush had the better of the Ranfurly Shield match up to that stage.

The withdrawal through personal reasons of the 1972 captain and half-back, Karatau, did not help iron out the Selector’s problem of quick service from a hard-working forward pack which played too loose to ensure clean ball.

As admirably as he played behind the scrum, Harris did not give speedy delivery, and the new 20-year old 1st five-eighth, McEwen (who showed much promise in place of the injured Sanson) was often harassed by opposition flankers . . . a notable occurrence in Wairarapa-Bush’s big loss in the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Marlborough. Inder was a solid second five-eighth with good defence, while centre Martin (who captained the team early in the season) was the side’s best back with his ability to make the “break”; he played in all eleven matches.

A 1969 Wairarapa winger, Sims, appeared to have lost some of his pace (he returned after representing Manawatu in 1970-71); Hooper-Smith, who last appeared in 1970, occupied the other wing position for three games before leaving the district. A newcomer, the 13st., 21-year old Glover, then impressed with his hip-thrusting running and looks a wing-three quarter of much promise. Bargh, who made one appearance at centre, was a 1971 Poverty Bay representative. Couch was an enterprising full-back (he also played in the five-eighths), but his unavailability for Sunday play saw a schoolteacher from Wanganui, Giles make his first-class debut at full-back; he appeared in five matches and registered 17 points against King Country.

The promising Lock/No. 8, Dalziell, who appeared previously in 1971, missed the latter part of the season through injury; the 1972 regular No. 8, Taylor, also suffered injury and made only three appearances. Turley, who has now played over 90 first-class matches, was a strength in the line-outs and was the only forward to appear in all 11 fixtures. The veteran Oliver, who had earlier indicated his intention to retire at the end of the Season, was replaced later in the programme by a promising young newcomer at lock, Clarke. McConnochie and Ryan were a lively pair of flankers, the latter taking over the captaincy after the third game. Wyeth and Spence were new side-rankers who appeared late in the programme; the 21-year old Spence looks a player of promise and should benefit from his transfer to the Senior A club grade in 1974. Dalton, a 1968 Mid-Canterbury representative, and Playle, who made one appearance as a reserve in 1970 for Wairarapa, teamed up as a solid pair of front-row props. McGlashan and newcomer Geange shared the hooking berth after regular hooker since 1968,Falconer, announced his retirement; he appeared Once as a replacement and, in all, has made 51 appearances for his Union.

For the 11 engagements, 36 players were called on, of which 13 were newcomers to representative Rugby.

Of the regular 1972 representatives, the prop A.B.Henwood had left the district, winger Roger Twentyman had retired, While the Maori prop W. N. Rowlands was in temporary retirement. N.A.Purvis had returned to Central Otago.

Ryan toured with the New Zealand Juniors, and the ex-Wairarapa All Black, B. J. Lochore, appeared for the President’s XV. and Invitation XV. against the New Zealand side.

Results 1973

Wed 09 May	2:30 pm	H	Wellington	Wairarapa-Bush	00 - 20	Match Center
Wed 16 May	2:30 pm	H	Victoria (Aus)	Wairarapa-Bush	35 - 15	Match Center
Mon 04 Jun	2:30 pm	H	Hawkes Bay	Wairarapa-Bush	15 - 34	Match Center
Sat 21 Jul	2:30 pm	H	Nelson Bays	Wairarapa-Bush	27 - 09	Match Center
Sat 28 Jul	2:30 pm	A	Whanganui	Wairarapa-Bush	22 - 12	Match Center
Sun 05 Aug	2:30 pm	H	King Country	Wairarapa-Bush	25 - 06	Match Center
Sat 11 Aug	2:30 pm	A	Marlborough	Wairarapa-Bush	36 - 00	Match Center
Wed 15 Aug	2:30 pm	H	Horowhenua	Wairarapa-Bush	28 - 08	Match Center
Sat 18 Aug	2:30 pm	A	Taranaki	Wairarapa-Bush	13 - 06	Match Center
Sat 25 Aug	2:30 pm	A	Manawatu	Wairarapa-Bush	13 - 03	Match Center
Sat 01 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Southland	Wairarapa-Bush	15 - 14	Match Center

Cap# & Wairarapa Bush REPRESENTATIVES 1973 {Total Games}

Cap#		PLAYER	POSITION	CLUB	PL
002		Graham Edmund Falconer	Hooker	Carterton	1
004		lan Francis Turley	Loose Forward, Lock	Red Star	11
005		David Patrick Oliver	Lock	Konini	6
007		Patrick John Ryan	Loose Forward	Pahiatua	10
009		Laurence Herbert Karatau	Scrumhalf	Masterton	1
010		Roy Te Ra Riwai Couch	First Five, Fullback	Featherston	8
013		Bruce George Martin	Centre	Masterton	11
020		Malcolm Rex Sanson	First Five, Fullback	Masterton	3
022		Gary Keith McGlashan	Hooker	Red Star	5
025		John William Dalziell	Hooker, Prop	East Coast	6
034		Brian J. McConnochie	Flanker, Winger	Masterton	8
036		Douglas Patrick Harris	Scrumhalf	Konini	9
038		Robert Turton ‘Bob’ Pringle	Winger	Masterton	2
039		Neville Douglas Taylor	No. 8	Featherston	3
040		Brian William Narbey	Flanker	Featherston	3
042		Michael David Eastwood	Flanker	Masterton Marist	2
043		Kevin Wyless Inder	Centre	Pahiatua	8
044		Ronald Charles Parker	Fullback	Carterton	1
045		Nigel Peter Sargent	Prop	Featherston	1
046		Douglas Hooper-Smith	Fullback, Winger	Featherston	3
047		Richard Ewing ‘Ritchie’ Robertson	Scrumhalf, Winger	Greytown	3
048		David Rutherford Kershaw	Forward	Featherston	4
049		Ian Barry Blake	First Five	Carterton	1
050		Howard James Sims	Winger	Red Star	9
051		Anthony Robert ’Tony’ Foreman	Lock	Tiraumea	1
052		David Allen Boustead	Loose Forward	Pahiatua	1
053		Christopher John Bargh	Centre	Featherston	1
054		Clifford William Dalton	Prop	Masterton	8
055		Kevin Douglas Geange	Forward	Carterton	6
056		Rex Basil Playle	Prop	Carterton	8
057		John ‘Jock’ McEwan	First Five	Masterton	7
058		Leslie Norman Glover	Winger	Masterton	7
059		Peter Fredwick Giles	Fullback	Masterton	5
060		Brian William James Clarke	Lock	Red Star	5
061		Michael Eric Payton Wyeth	Flanker	Masterton	2
062		Simon James Spence	Flanker	East Coast	3