Norths beat Ories in feature women’s clash

Above: The two forward packs collide at Jerry Collins Stadium in the feature Norths-Ories women's match on Saturday. PHOTO: Blair Mockett. 

Northern United women’s team defeated the Oriental-Rongotai women’s team 34-22 at Jerry Collins Park in Porirua in their feature Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy fixture on Saturday.

Oriental-Rongotai got off to the better start when they went blindside and No. 8 Tina Paulo went in to score with less than five minutes gone.

It wouldn’t take long for Northern United to respond with some lovely passing leading to winger Eden Gibson crossing over to level the score.

A few minutes later some great counter-attack set Eden Gibson up to score her second and give her team the lead.

From a turnover, Northern United would punish Oriental-Rongotai with halfback Shaye Whareaorere crossing over to extend her teams lead to seven points.

Eden Gibson would complete a hat trick, bumping off her opposite number who then had to lead the field. Northern United were now up 22-5 with less than ten minutes to go in the first half.

A high tackle would see Norths blindside flanker Leah Conley spend ten minutes in the bin, giving Ories a chance to get back into the game.

They managed to capitalise with the captain Joanah Ngan-Woo driving over to make it a ten point ball game at halftime. North’s up 22-12 at the break.

Within seven minutes of play resuming Norths would take back control of the game after they maintained territory pressure, enabling front row Patsy Schwalger to crash over.

Five minutes later Ories skipper Joanah Ngan-Woo grabbed her double to close the gap back to twelve points.

And then after defending for what seemed like an age, Ories counterattacked from their own 22 and centre Ayesha Leti-I’iga crossed over to get her side back into the game with seventeen points remaining.

However, a yellow card to Ories prop Janet Taumoli would help Norths score with Number 12 Helen Collins finishing it off with ten minutes to play.

Final score 34-22 to Northern United who are now second place on the Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy competition, just one point behind leaders Paremata-Plimmerton.

Oriental-Rongotai head coach Mason Malagamaali’i says despite the outcome one of the positives of the result was that it gave his team things to work on.

“I believed today we lacked a bit of energy from the get-go although we scored the first try we sort of took a step back rather than take a step forward, it’s mainly a mental game with our girls.”

“The positives are that we’ve got a lot to work on, that’s the biggest thing as a coach, your always looking to improve your always looking to fix things”, Said Mason Malagamaali’i.

Northern United head coach Matt Poutoa was happy with the way his team, in particular, the forward pack performed.

“They stood up against the top team and the form forward pack so they had to deliver and they did so that was good to see”.

“We always take one game at a time, We will put this game to bed we will enjoy it, we haven’t beaten them [Ories] for three years so we will enjoy that and then come next week we will focus on PK [Poneke]”, Said Matt Poutoa.

Norths now prepare to take on Poneke at home whilst Ories travel to take on top of the table Paremata-Plimmerton at the Ngati-toa domain.

Norths also defended the Challenge Cup with this win.

In other women’s competition games on Saturday, Petone beat OBU 21-7, Marist St Pat’s beat Avalon 38-22 and Paremata-Plimmerton defeated Poneke 77-5.

Norths: 34
Tries: 3 Eden Gibson, Helen Collins, Shaye Whareaorere, Patsy Schwalger. Con: 2 Teina Puketapu

Ories: 22
Tries: 2 Joanah Ngan-Woo, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Tina Paulo. Con: Amanda Rasch

Half-time: 22-12