Gut-wrenching loss for Cyclones
A late dropped goal cruelly ruined the Manawatu¯ Cyclones’ hopes of their first win of the year in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Waikato won 15-12 at the Arena, Palmerston North, on Saturday thanks to the boot of Chelsea Alley, a regular Cyclones tormenter, who slotted a dropped goal with four minutes remaining, breaking a 12-all deadlock.
Manawatu¯ had a chance with an attacking lineout close to Waikato’s line at the end of the game, but the lineout was over thrown and Waikato snaffled the ball.
The Cyclones were a lot better than their 43-14 loss to Counties Manukau last week, but captain and first five-eighth Selica Winiata was frustrated after the close loss.
‘‘We have definitely improved from last week’s performance.
‘‘It is just the girls understanding the game plan and what we are trying to execute in the right areas of the field.
‘‘Unfortunately, we were our own worst enemies – spilling ball or ball turned over in crucial areas of the field.’’
She said a lot of the young players were still learning and they would gain experience from this game.
Manawatu¯ had plenty of possession, but also plenty of missed scoring opportunities and Waikato managed to keep them out.
The Manawatu¯ forwards were industrious on defence – flanker Sam Tipene, lock Jess Faganpease and hooker Sosoli Talawadua were in the thick of it, but they struggled again at the set-piece and lost too much ball at ruck time.
Manawatu¯ ’s scrum and lineout improved in the second half, but when Manawatu¯ were looking to apply pressure, their set-piece would let them down.
Cyclones second five-eighth Janna Vaughan, who was a regular threat running good attacking lines, almost scored in the opening minute, but couldn’t ground a grubber kick.
Manawatu¯ were still on the scoreboard first when centre Carys Dallinger scored an 80-metre intercept try after 22 minutes. Waikato then scored out wide to make it 5-all at halftime.
Young wing Rangimarie Sturmey, who looked sharp in her second game, scored her first try for Manawatu¯ not long after halftime when she pounced on a grubber kick from Winiata.
But Waikato answered back again with a try on the wing to level the scores.
Having halfback Kristina Sue back gave the Cyclones much more direction and Fagan-pease gave them more grunt in the forward. Fagan-pease and her locking partner, Ashleigh Knight, worked hard.
Manawatu¯ lost utility back Shanna Porima to a calf injury in the warmup, but Lauren Balsillie took her place on the bench.
Maggie Leota was good off the bench on the wing.
Manawatu¯ now have a tough away game against Canterbury in Christchurch this weekend.
The Manawatu¯ under-18 women beat Whanganui 26-24 in the curtain-raiser.
Meanwhile, the Manawatu¯ under-19 men finished sixth at the national tournament at Taupo¯ .
Manawatu¯ lost 17-3 to Otago in the playoff for fifth, but still equalled Manawatu¯ ’s best finish at the tournament.
In the Heartland Championship, Horowhenua Ka¯piti lost 46-31 to Buller in Levin.
Horowhenua Ka¯ piti play King Country at Te Kuiti this weekend.