Rookie steals the show as Kiwi Ferns celebrate milestone in style
PROMISING union player Autumn Stephens-Daly may have found a new home in rugby league after playing a starring role in the Kiwi Ferns’ victory over Fetu Samoa.
The New Zealand women’s team celebrated their 25th anniversary with a 28-8 win over the Samoan invitational side at Mt Smart Stadium.
Stephens-Daly stole the show on debut, scoring two tries while setting up another and impressing with her blinding speed and surprising strength.
The Upper Central Stallions five-eighth raced 50 metres and fended off the fullback for her first try, and almost scored off a replica play shortly after the break only to unselfishly set up winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo.
Her second try was amuch more straightforward as she dived over from close range after scooping up a deflected pass.
A Bay of Plenty rugby representative in both sevens and in the Farah Palmer Cup, Stephens-Daly is in only her first full season of rugby league.
But after backing up an MVP performance in the recent National Women’s
Championship with a stellar display in the black jersey, she has certainly put herself in the frame for next year’s World Cup.
With several established players unavailable, new Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry took the opportunity to blood 11 debutantes in his squad and would have been generally pleased with the performance.
Fullback Lavinia Tauhalaliku was another of the rookies to stand out as did halfback Karli Hansen before leaving the field in the second half due to a knee injury.
Meanwhile, back-rower Crystal Tamarua was a constant threat on the edge and capped off a powerful performance with a late long-range try.
The Kiwi Ferns out-scored Samoa six tries to two in slippery conditions, which made handling difficult.
But Samoa forced plenty of errors themselves, giving as good as they got on defence and
taking the fight to the hosts throughout the 80 minutes, despite limited preparation.
The Auckland event showcased the first rugby league internationals of any kind this year, with Tonga women overpowering their Niue counterparts 66-8 in the curtainraiser.