Tasman Makos: News

Stoke secures first win in women's championship
19-Aug-2008

Nelson

Stoke backed up a strong forward effort to seal a 24-14 win over Waimea Old Boys in Saturday's Tasman women's rugby final at Ngawhatu.

Despite trailing 12-14 at halftime, Stoke kept last year's champion Waimea side scoreless in the second half to add two further tries and complete its first ever championship win.

Stoke scored four tries to two, with winger Casey Nukunuku and No 8 Angela Cotton crossing for Stoke to help secure an early 12-0 lead

But Waimea showed plenty of spirit to fight its way back, with tries to second five-eighth Rhonda Snowden and winger Rebecca Fitzgerald helping to push the defending champion to its narrow halftime lead.

Stoke monopolised the second half scoring as further tries to winger Stephanie Ottenbusch and lock Rata Parkin enabled it to establish an important 10-point buffer which Waimea was unable to bridge.

Impressive work by Stoke's forwards was a factor in three of its tries, with Ottenbusch relying on pace to sprint clear from halfway to score hers.

Cotton and Kat Soper worked tirelessly in a dominant Stoke pack, allowing halfback Sallyanne Archibald to maintain pressure with her smart clearance and intelligent kicking game.

First five-eighth Dana Wilson also distributed the ball well.

Snowden shook off the effects of strained achilles to show some fine individual touches in Waimea's midfield and Olivia Bird also played solidly at centre.

Stoke 24 (Casey Nukunuku, Angela Cotton, Stephanie Ottenbusch, Rata Parkin tries, Genna Eathorne 2 cons)
WOB 14 (Rhonda Snowden, Rebecca Fitzgerald tries, Penny Stickney 2 cons) Ht 12-14.

Coach Graham Pitman and fellow selector Tony Healy have also named their Tasman representative team to prepare for games against Canterbury B in Christchurch on August 30 and at Neale Park in Nelson on September 13.

The squad, to train at Greenmeadows Tuesday at 6.30pm, is: Kate Nightingale (Stoke), Amanda Sim (WOB), Abbie Cederman (Stoke), Kirsty Johnsen (Stoke), Lucy Higgins (Stoke), Pip Love (NCG), Hannah Neal (Nelson), Kat Soper (Stoke), Angela Cotton (Stoke), Holly Fry (Stoke), Kelly Standford (Central), Rata Parkin (Stoke), Sallyanne Archibald (Stoke), Penny Stickney (WOB), Dana Wilson (Stoke), Rosalia Ioane (Nelson), Kim Vui (Huia), Olivia Bird (WOB), McKenzie Archibald (Stoke), Genna Eathorne (Stoke), Shi Popatta (Huia), Sandy Large (Central), Olivia Timpson (NCG).