Weekend's Wrap and some extra bits
Everything everywhere all at once
When I was a player one of my favourite things was the little fans. As a hooker, I got to interact with them a fair bit, particularly our ball girls. They would be the ones there for me at Pride games, offering a ball and a towel which many of them brought from home. A couple of those ball girls have since gone on to become bloody good players in their own right. Milly Mackey is a halfback in Wellington, Rangimarie Sturmey a winger in Manawatū and not quite a ball girl but another young one that kicked around is Kiki Tahere, who now plays first five for Bay of Plenty Volcanix.
All this to say, you are aware when you’re a player that being a representative doesn’t just mean you’re repping your community or your sport. You’re being a role model to the young ones that may be watching and if you do it half right, you making them feel that they belong here. Which isn’t always something that girls experience in sport.
Last year, I took part in a silly little series called Extreme Cake Sports. I did it cause it sounded like fun and not unlike rugby, my favourite outcome has been the little fans.
Today, I heard that this series will be popping up in the after school programming on TV2 so we might be getting a couple more.
Anyway RUGBY!
I’m getting better at the picks. Sure it was only 3.5 but Cyclones putting that big of a scoreline on the Pride was certainly upsetting.
I went up to that match and I don’t even know what I can say to you about it. Was ugly from Wellington from start to finish.
I played both prop and hooker for the Pride and those scrums make me so sad. We used to pride ourselves (lol) on our dominance in that area so what the heck am I looking at? In phase play, ball retention is such an issue for us that we can’t build anything that my resemble momentum or its mate pressure.
So Wellington now finds itself flirting with relegation. With the team we have on paper, this is an embarrassment but probably indicative of the overall unhealthy state of women’s rugby in the region.
We have two matches left to save the season - Bay of Plenty and Auckland. Neither of these will be easy assignments and socks will need to be pulled right up.
The Manawatū Cyclones took that match at the weekend but paid heavy for it. Kaipo Olsen-Baker went down with what I hear was a broken ankle. This will effectively end her season opening up a spot in the Black Ferns World Cup team. Lauren Balsillie hopped off with an ACL and Selica Winiata played through a PCL.
Gutted for all these players and wish them a speedy recovery.
I only caught bits and pieces of the other matches so will offer this:
The tin arse baton has been passed from the Auckland Storm to the rightful owner, Canterbury, who pulled off another comeback at the death. Their ability to dig themselves out of trouble is why they will probably win this year.
Krystal Murray has MAD SKILLZZZZ. Her timing on the draw and pass is something all young players should be watching. That foundational skill set up two tries against North Harbour on Saturday. Her kicking from the sideline was also gorgeous. Her goose step however needs work.
One player can’t win a game but Haley Hutana will give it a good go.
You would have to pay the TAB to tip Otago to be promoted this season, they are just looking too good.
To that point, is it time to bring in a promotion/relegation match? The Cyclones were head and shoulders above the rest in the Championship last year but are now in danger of heading back down after one season.
Lastly, it’s official. You can catch me weekly now in the Herald on Sunday with a column I will be writing on sports. I’ve also signed a contract to do some coverage elsewhere for the Rugby World Cup. So between these things and this newsletter, you’re going to be so sick of me come end of November.
But really, you only have yourselves to blame. It was you who backed me to do this properly and now I’m trying to do just that.
With you,
Alice