Mako women named to play Otago
The Tasman women’s rugby side will beplaying for pride when they run onto Lansdowne Park on Saturday for their finalgame in the Farah Palmer Cup competition.
BY PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
It has been a tough season for the Makowomen. They began with a flourish, downing Taranaki 65-12 in Nelson, but sincethen have suffered heavy losses to premiership side Auckland, plus championshiprivals North Harbour, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay, leaving them fifth in thesix-team competition.
Consequently a semifinal spot is wellout of reach, regardless of the result of their final encounter, which kicksoff at 2.05pm with entry free.
Their opponents are the Otago Spirit,who have a semifinal spot locked down, currently sitting in third place on thechampionship ladder after three wins.
Tasman’s coach, Marty O’Cain, said hischarges had "a point to prove” on Saturday.
He said the season had beendisappointing when judged on results alone, but there were promising signs oflate.
He felt the team’s big win overTaranaki, who quickly became the competition’s cellar dwellers, had provided"false hope” meaning that the following week they were unable to handlethe intensity Auckland brought to their contest.
"We never gave up in that gamethough, then against North Harbour we just let ourselves down. AgainstWellington we gave up, but on Saturday, even though the score was 47-12, it wasby far our best performance in a competitive game.
"We created plenty of opportunitiesbut what we are not doing well is transitioning from offence to defenseefficiently. We were quite pleased with how we went but the girls have a pointto prove, seeing if they can do it again this week.”
O’Cain said fullback Crystal Mayes hadbeen a standout so far. A member of the Black Ferns wider training group, shehas proved reliable at the back and a threat on attack.
Also putting their hands up had beenskipper Jess Foster-Lawrence at No 8, plus centre Hayley Hutana, who isbecoming more familiar with the midfield role.
"One thing about this group is thatthey haven’t dropped their heads … they have kept their spirits up and theyknow what they have to do to fix things.
"We are realistic … Otago will goin on Saturday as favourites but, if we carry on from last week, we may givethem a bit of a surprise.”
A boost for women’s rugby in the regioncame at the recent South Island under-18 tournament when Tasman, after beinghammered last year, finished a highly-creditable third.
Three members of the squad, all membersof the Mako women’s side, were named in the tournament team - Demi Salton,Hannah Beech and Sophie O’Cain.
Tasman women v Otago: 1 Anna Bradley, 2 Stephani Mitchell, 3Louise Nalder, 4 Juanita Thomson, 5 Tamara Silcock, 6 Rheanna Wood, 7 KellyStanford, 8 Jess Foster-Lawrence (captain); 9 Jamie Paenga, 10 Sophie O’Cain,11 Amelia Hammett, Staci Kohe, 13 Hayley Hutana, 14 Michelle Curry, 15 CrystalMayes. Reserves: 16 Kelly Couper, 17 Erika Saunders, 18 Gina Healy, 19 HannahBeech, 20 Hannah Kelly, 21 Demi Salton, 22 Leti Fotumoala.
