Wellington Pride to start Women’s NPC season this Saturday

UPDATED: The Wellington Pride step out on to the Petone Recreation Ground this Saturday at 12.30pm to host the Manawatu Cyclones in their opening match of the 2015 Women’s NPC (WNPC).

The 16th WNPC season started last week, but the Pride had their bye and were in camp in Kapiti. This is the first of six round-robin matches, including three at home, leading up to the WNPC semi-finals on 10 October.

Six matches including the final on 17 October are being played as curtain raisers to ITM Cup matches, broadcast live on SKY.

It’s a nine-team competition again this year, but a change in format sees each side only play six of the other eight teams. The two teams that the Pride isn’t playing are the Otago Spirit and the defending champions the Auckland Storm.

Last year the Pride had two wins and six losses and finished seventh. In 2013 they had two wins and five losses and also finished seventh (of eight teams). New Pride coach James Porter said that improvement is a key theme heading into this season and if they play well there’s no reason why the Pride can’t push for the playoffs this year.

“Obviously the big guns are Auckland and they have a hand on the trophy,” Porter said. “Auckland is a very good, well-resourced outfit, but at the same time everyone including us is in with a shot and it’s pretty even.”

The Pride has a blend of youth and experience, and the balance of the team is exciting.

“We’ve got three girls who are still at school. Ayesha Leti-l’iga [Oriental-Rongotai] is only in Year 11. She only just makes the qualifying age of 16, but in saying that she’d be one of our more exicting prospects.”

“We’ve also got experienced players such as former Black Ferns Aimee Sutorius [Northern United], Jackie Patea [Wainuiomata] and Moana Aiutu [Northern United], and what these players have offered to the programme so far has been outstanding.”

Other players to look out for include Hutt Old Boys Marist lock Petra Kriklanova Oriental-Rongotai duo, lock/flanker Joanah Ngan-Woo and midfielder Amanda Rasch. “Amanda Rasch and Jackie Patea are our co-captains this year; Jackie brings a world of experience and Amanda is still young but draws in a lot of respect around her in the backs.”

From the Czech Republic, Petra is a top softballer and is the current pitcher for the Hutt Valley Saints side, and has recently taken up rugby. “Petra tried her hand in rugby this year for the new HOBM team and she caught our eye. She’s big, she’s hard and she loves to learn.”

The coaches are Porter and Matt Poutoa. Wellington Women’s Sevens coaches Charles Aliva and Fa’avae Tumaai and Old Boys University Women’s coach Dave Jensen are all part of the coaching support team.

Porter said the support and appreciation for women’s rugby had been great from all clubs this year, and giving back was certainly something the Pride had at the forefront of their minds heading into the representative season.

“The girls have been working hard and are all really keen to get out there and play well for their clubs, their families, the union and the province.”

First up is Manawatu, who beat the Bay of Plenty Volcanix 29-7 in Palmerston North last week, winning four tries to one.

Manawatu finished fifth in both 2013 and 2014, so they too are motivated to go one better and reach the semi-finals. Head to head, Manawatu beat Wellington 25-12 in 2013 and 22-10 last year.

Following the opener against Manawatu, the Pride play home matches against the Counties Manukau Heat on 19 September and Canterbury on 26 September.

Follow the full Women’s NPC competition at our National Draws & Results website here

Match details:

What: 2015 Women’s NPC Round 2
Who: Wellington Pride v Manawatu Cyclones
Where: Petone Recreation Ground
When: Saturday 29 August, kick-off 12.30pm

The Wellington Pride team to play Manawatu in their first match of the year is:

1. Muteremoana Aiatu (Northern United)
2. Alice Soper (Wainuiomata)
3. Noleen Nonu (Oriental-Rongotai)
4. Sanita Levave (Northern United)
5. Petra Krikanova (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
6. Joanah Ngan-Woo (Oriental-Rongotai)
7. Caroline Sio (Avalon)
8. Jackie Patea (Wainuiomata)
9. Agnes Dean (Northern United)
10. Elizabeth Goulden (Oriental-Rongotai)
11. Ayesha Leti-L’iga (Oriental-Rongotai)
12. Amanda Rasch (Oriental-Rongotai)
13. Georgia Daals (Old Boys University)
14. Helena Lawrence (Oriental-Rongotai)
15. Vaine Marsters (Northern United)

Reserves (to be confirmed):
16. Alicia Print (Oriental-Rongotai)
17. Janet Taumoli (Oriental-Rongotai)
18. Miriam Ready (Oriental-Rongotai)
19. Kirsty Stewart (Oriental-Rongotai)
20. Moana Solia (Old Boys University)
21. Mena Tumaaii (Oriental-Rongotai)
22. Ruby Finau (Avalon)