Counties too big, too strong
BIG and strong will in the end always beat tough and brave.
It is the way the game is these days.
The CountiesManukau women’s side proved that on Saturday at Forsyth Barr Stadium, beating a plucky Otago Spirit 398 after it led 178 at the break.
The premiership team was way bigger than the home town girls but that did not stop Otago from flying into everything and lowering the hardrunning CountiesManukau ball carriers.
With 10 minutes left, Otago was still in the game, trailing 228 and pressing the line .
But CountiesManukau regained the ball and steamed home, scoring three more tries to win by a score which rather flattered it.
Otago coach Scott Manson was proud of his side and its performance.
‘‘They really gave it their all. We worked hard the entire game and never gave in,’’ he said.
‘‘A lot of their tries came from mistakes where we just did not do those little details. If we can fix those, then we can be a lot better,’’ Manson said.
‘‘[We] just have to be more accurate and a lot stronger at finishing off moves, then we can get closer."
Manson said scoring just before halftime helped it in the second half and it was in with a sniff for the majority of the second half.
Scoring gave momentum during the game and helped the side gain more confidence, he said.
The side had lost outstanding flanker Georgia Mason during the week with a knee injury but Zoe Whatarau, who usually plays in the backs, took over the no 7 jersey and had an outstanding match.
She never backed down and got round the field.
The home side dominated the opening stages of the match and Whatarau made a break early on which was nearly converted into a try. Otago scored a penalty through Rosie Kelly for all its efforts in the opening 10 minutes but probably deserved more.
The visiting team then scored just before halfway through the opening period when prop Lauryn Steed went over. Impressive No 8 Aroha Savage then extended the lead when she barged over and then fullback Waikohika Flesher scored to extend the lead to 173.
Otago scored its sole try just before halftime. It made some nice space down the left and swung the ball back to the right. Hooker Rebecca Todd got the ball 10m out on the wing and went over.
The blue and golds had some opportunities in the second half but just lacked the polish in the attacking zone. The side could not find much space against a flatstanding and aggressive CountiesManukau defence.
Best for the Spirit, apart from Whatarau, was halfback Rosie BuchananBrown, who threw out some good passes, midfield back Greer Muir, in her 50th game for the Spirit, No 8 Tegan Hollows and lock Julia Gorinski.