Lewis Bush [with ball] eyes a gap against Gladstone. PHOTO/FIONA HIGGISON
LiquorLand Player of the Week
Greytown prop Lewis Bush had a barnstorming game and set up a vital try in Greytown’s 32-10 win over Gladstone to pick up three points in the Liquorland Best and Fairest. CHRIS COGDALE talked to the Carterton apprentice builder.
Playing touch in the gym every night and 1st XI hockey while a boarder at St Patrick’s Silverstream honed the skills that made Lewis Bush one of the standout performers in the second round of the Moose Kapene Cup.
Bush played for the St Pat’s 2nd XV and made a few appearances for the 1st XV and was a regular in the school’s top hockey team.
Those skills and pace were on show when the 21-year-old laid on the decisive try for fullback Raniera Petersen to give Greytown a 20-3 lead over Gladstone early in the second half.
In typical prop fashion, Bush was modest about his involvement over the 80 minutes.
“I just saw a bit of a hole and thought I’d have a cheeky go for it, and I was just lucky enough that Raniera was running and came up beside me and I gave him the off-load,” he said
“I was definitely a bit tired, but I had to step up this week, because I had a bit of a shocker last week, and I had to prove it to the boys that I still had it.”
Bush wasn’t the only front-rower to find the tryline with fellow prop Chris Hemi and hooker Ryan Hargood also bagging five-pointers on Saturday. The three are building a useful combination.
“Chris and another young fella at hooker Ryan, who played over in Wellington, came home, and we all know how to handle ourselves in the front row and the scrum has been pretty good this year. We dominated Gladstone.”
Bush, a builder’s apprentice with Holmes Construction, has been with the Greytown club since leaving school and is in his fourth year in the premier side. He’s relishing playing with some of his childhood idols.
“I think Tavita and Tana, when I was playing JAB rugby, were in the seniors and I’d stay behind and watch those guys play and it’s just great to play with them now. They take you under their wing, and they really push me, sometimes good and sometimes not so good.”
Off the rugby field, Bush enjoys getting out to the coast for a spot of fishing.
On his current form that may have to wait until after the representative season, with Bush looking a good chance of adding to his one Wairarapa-Bush appearance.
