Miller a future Black Fern?
Timaru Girls’ High School may have lost the Aoraki secondary school girls’ rugby championship final but they have uncovered a star in the making with open side Jorja Miller.
Miller was the stand-out in the 60-42 loss to a combined Mt HuttAshburton College team at Alpine Energy Stadium on Wednesday night.
A Year 9 student, Miller fearlessly brought down much bigger and older opponents. She also single handedly brought TGHS back into the game, with her side’s first three tries, all superb individual efforts where she side-stepped her way around defenders.
The first saw her take a quick tap from 30m out and Highland dancer stepped her way past defenders.
Down 36-7, Miller packed down at No.8 and broke from the back of the scrum, again leaving defenders in her wake. A minute later she burst out from halfway and outsprinted the chasing defenders.
At one stage she was also floored while trying to stop a Mt Hutt- Ashburton College prop but bounced back up after receiving attention and didn’t lose any of her aggression at the the tackle.
A talented basketballer, Miller also will likely have a big future in women’s rugby she sticks with it.
Other TGHS players also impressed against the experienced Mid Canterbury combined side. Second five Bridget Crabbe made some strong runs while South Canterbury women’s hockey top goal scorer, Jenna-Rae McIntyre looked classy at centre.
McIntyre used her speed to run in two tries and also proved a handy goal kicker, converting five of the six tries.
In the forwards hooker Ash Mortimer tackled everything that came her way while No.8 Emillie Russell also ran strongly.
But there was no denying Mt Hutt- Ashburton College, who were unbeaten all season, as they ran in 10 tries to six, in an entertaining encounter.
Led by the powerful Te Moananui triplets, Chloe, Jamee and Erana, they responded every time TGHS threatened to close the gap.
Hard charging prop Erana proved very hard to stop in open play, scoring four tries, while second five Jamee got three.
No.8 Chloe also made plenty of metres with ball in hand and turned the ball over on a number of occasions.
Halfback Piper Jones was very good around the fringes and burst away to score two well taken tries while fullback Kate Donald also showed her class.
The 18-year-old triplets have played senior women’s rugby in the Christchurch Metro competition for a couple of years.
It was fourth consecutive time