Raetihi trounce Counties

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 485, 11 May 1993, Page 9

Raetihi trounce Counties

BY

OSSIE

Raetihi senior women' s rugby team started their 1993 championship campaign with an overwhelming 41-5 victory over last year's finalist, Wanganui Counties. Counties who looked the better side on paper with eight Wanganui representatives and almost all their players from last year returning, had no answer for a solid Raetihi performance. Leading the .charge in the forwards was number eight Janice Martini who scored a hattrick of tries from good backing-up and some strong runs from the back of the scrum. Skipper Sherry Hansen who played at second-five also scored a hat-trick of tries through weak defence by Counties and sheer

strength. She also converted three of the seven tries to take her personal-tally to 21 points for the day. The other try-scorer for Raetihi was centre Rene Hiroti who ran over sometimes fending off three defenders and then out-pacing the counties full-back Other players who had good games for Raetihi were in the forwards, Tania Hinana and Olivia Haitana who both had many strong-runs up the middle, and in the backs were Raema Mowat who played a safe strategic game at first-five, Tina Martene with heaps of aggression on attack and defence and half-back Michelle Kui whose allround performance gave her a well-deserved player of the day award. Although well-beaten,

players who looked more impressive for Counties were in the forwards Skipper, Missie Waitere who led by example with strong-runs and goodtackling, loose-forward Lyn O'Connor and in the second-five Serena Paranihi who was later awarded player of the day by Raetihi. Counties only try came late in the secondhalf to winger Paula Fore who after solid-pressure for a much heavier Counties forward-pack scored in the corner. If Counties are to return to last year's form they will need to concentrate on tackling and more fitness. Raetihi Coach Stu Haitana was pleased with the result but was concerned with scrummaging and commitment to the loose-ball. Raetihi's

next game on 23 May is against Ohakune at Ohakune. Raetihi 41, Sherry Hansen 3, Counties 5, Janice Martini 3, Rene Hiroti trys, Sherry Hansen 3 conversions, Paula Fore try.