Otago Spirit account for visiting Tasman Mako in FPC

By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]

In the earlier match at Forsyth Barr, the Tasman women were outpaced and outscored seven tries to one.

The Otago Spirit coupled a rushing defensive line with some pacy attacks, leaving the Mako battering at brick walls on attack and often stretched on defence by the speed of the home side’s outside backs.

The visitors retained ball well but often went nowhere, resorting to positional kicks, which were returned with interest.

Skipper Sui Pauaraisa, fellow flanker Tamara Silcock, midfielder Chloe Dixon and winger Becky Davidson stood out for the Mako, along with the influential Cassie Siataga.

On Saturday Tasman play their final round robin match, meeting Hawke’s Bay in Nelson with a 2.05pm kick-off.

Otago Spirit  39 (Sheree Hume 2, Georgia Cormick, Te Atawhai Campbell, Keely Hill, Leah Miles, Cheyenne Cunningham tries; Cormick 2 con) def Tasman  7 (Bethan Manners try, con). Halftime: Otago 29-0.

By Adrian Seconi [Otago Daily Times]

The Otago Spirit rolled to a fourth consecutive win but this one was costly.

As impressive as the home team was in its 39-7 win over Tasman at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday, there was a toll to pay.

Classy first five Maia Joseph had to be assisted from the field after picking up a knee complaint, and devastating winger Oceana Campbell dislocated her shoulder in the opening stages of the game.

The victory has cemented Otago at the top of the Championship standings.

Coach Scott Manson was thrilled with an opening half in which his side scored five tries.

"It was a really awesome first half. We really took it to them and made some good decisions on the edge and scored some really good tries," he said.

It is unclear how bad Joseph’s knee injury was but Manson said it did not look great.

"Maia has been outstanding this season, so it’s terrible for her."

Otago took about five minutes to get on the scoreboard.

Campbell burst into a big hole from a scrum and fullback Sheree Hume was able to finish off out wide.

It was Campbell’s last act of the game. She left the field clutching her arm and was replaced by Kiana Wereta.

Joseph was assisted from the field not long after and that forced a major reshuffle.

Hume moved into first five and Te Atawhai Campbell came on in the midfield for her debut. Centre Cheyenne Cunningham shifted back to fullback

Hume made an immediate impact in the new spot. She slipped passed her marker and scored her second.

Georgia Cormick went in next. The talented halfback scooted right from a ruck and into a gap. She had the wheels to run in from 30m out.

The hole got deeper for Tasman when it fumbled deep in its 22m. Te Atawhai Campbell scooped it up and barged over, and moments later Keely Hill snatched a turn over and scampered 75m to extend the lead to 29-0 before the break.

Tasman blew a two-on-one out wide, but apart from that it was not able to mount any sustained pressure on its opponent.

That theme continued in the second spell. Prop Tita Lupeituu made some strong carries, blindside Tamara Silcock had an industrious game, and openside Sui Pauaraisa ran some nice lines.

But Tasman had no answer for the width which Otago played the game, although it was able to stem the flow of points.

Otago emptied the bench with about 20 minutes remaining and the game lost some shape.

Cormick was perhaps the best of the Spirit players. The speed at which she clears the ruck is a real asset, and Hume was threatening whenever she got the ball with half a yard of space.

Otago did not have to do a lot on defence, but scrambled well when required. Leah Miles and Grace Carroll got back to make crucial tackles following a rare Tasman breakout.

Tasman were able to post the last points of the game with a try to replacement back Bethan Manner which she also converted.