Women's rugby in good heart

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 587, 23 May 1995, Page 16

Women's rugby in good heart

The Raetihi Women's Rugby team is in good heart and so far this season they have played three games, winning two of them. First time out, a good hard run against Waiouru saw them the winners by 37-0. Janice Martini scored two tries and a conversion, Rose Renata three tries and Karen Casey 1 try. The next game against Teachers Manawatu was tougher and very close with the Teachers winning but only by one point, the score being 20-19. Tries for the home team were: Korty Wilson 1 and two conversions and Sherry Hansen two. The third game against Southern Manawatu saw Raetihi well and truly in the winner's seat with a 48-0 win. The team is made up of both Ohakune and Raetihi players, five from Ohakune and the rest from Raetihi. This year eight members from the team have been selected for the Wanganui representatives team. They are Korty Wilson, prop; Olivia Haitana, prop; Janice Martini, number eight broadside flanker; Sherry Hansen, open-side flanker; Valanique Wilson, fullback; Rene Hiroti, second 5/8; Rose Renata, winger, Raema Mowat, first 5/8. This weekend the women played the curtain raiser

with a mixed team from this region against Wanganui 's top team, trialing for the New Zealand team. Given that eight of their team members were in the Wanganui squad, Raetihi 's effort featured mainly B team or reserve players, who would have had an opportunity to prove themselves. Raetihi were unable to post a full team but in spite of this the front row were able to hold off the strength of the opposition and it was only by feeding their wings that the Wanganui squad could score. The game was played in four quarters with Wanganui scoring three tries in the first quarter and one conversion. In the second quarter two tries took the score to 27-0 and a try in the third quarter brought the score to 32-0, there was no conversion for that try. A penalty for Wanganui brought the game to 35-0. Raetihi' s next game is set for Sunday 28 May against Massey in Palmerston North. Then the girls will take a break and kick off again on 1 1 June with another home game playing Wanganui Counties. 25 June will see them with yet another home game against Waiouru and 2 July they are away to Wanganui to play Wanganui Counties.