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Sam Morison scored a try and kicked eight points in another impressive effort for Carterton in their 23-16 win over a determined Pioneer. CHRIS COGDALE caught up with the talented utility back.

A promising rugby career has looked to be on the cards for Sam Morison since he starred for the Wairarapa College First XV.

That was realised when he walked straight into the Carterton premier side in his first year out of school and earned selection in the 2019 Heartland Under-19 side.

In 2020, Morison made his Wairarapa-Bush senior representative debut in the inaugural Lochore-Meads Scroll match against King Country at Trust House Memorial Park.

Now, at just 21, Morison has already made 16 appearances for the green and reds and looks to have a long future for his home province.

Morison’s rugby journey started as a youngster with Tuhirangi when his parents Michael and Katrina lived near Pirinoa. He then played for Martinborough when the family moved to a small sheep and beef farm at Ponatahi. After five years at Waicol he joined up with his old college coach Chris Senior at Carterton.

Although first-five is Morison’s preferred position he was thrust into the fullback role for Wai-Bush in some games last year, and for Carterton in Saturday’s win over Pioneer. He said the positional change is taking some getting used to, but he is getting better at reading play from the back.

Carterton have continued last year’s good form, when they made the Chris ‘Moose’ Kapene Memorial Cup final, only to fall agonisingly short of Greytown 25-30.

The Maroons won all three games in the Town and Country series and will shape up against East Coast in the Lane Penn Trophy final.

Morison said the early success has come from having a similar team to 2021.

“We didn’t lose too many guys and we’ve picked up where we left off which is good, and we’ve got a few new guys, but pretty much the same core group so I think and that helps.”

One the catalysts behind Carterton’s success has come through their talented island players,

“They’ve got all this flair but sometimes it’s pretty hard to play with them, but they just do their own thing, and it seems to work well,” said Morison.

The return of veteran lock Lachie McFadzean has also added grunt to the engine room.

Morison reckons that Carterton has the right recipe to be championship contenders with the tough forward pack and island flair.

Outside rugby, Morison is in his final year of a builder’s apprenticeship with Ridgeline Construction, and enjoys a bit golf, hunting, and fishing in his spare time.

PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV

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