A month ago, Ōpōtiki’s women’s rugby team were struggling for players.

Now, they’re celebrating back-to-back wins in the Bay of Plenty Women’s Championship.
In their first home game of the season at Princess Street Reserve, player-coach Helen Coughlan and her team proved too strong for Te Puna, running out 58-15 winners.

It was an impressive effort for a team that’s still not flush with personnel.
Ōpōtiki ran in nine tries to three in what was a free-flowing game, which saw the home team use their big ball runners to perfection.
Sally Kurei, Wency-Ree Rewi and Danae Paora were all in dominant form with the ball, helping themselves to two tries each, while Coughlan, Arlyce Paora and Kamryn Harrison also dotted down.
Coughlan, a former Bay of Plenty Volcanix loose forward, said Te Puna threw plenty at them throughout the contest.

“Our ladies played awesome … but we had to work for it. Te Puna played a faster game to what we faced last week, which showed where our fitness level is at.

“My ladies pushed to the end and came away with the win, but win or lose, we are out there improving every week and that is the main thing.”

She said she was “beyond proud” of their performance with the forwards setting the standard, driving forward and breaking the advantage line to set up for the backs to finish it off.

“Each player got their chance to express themselves and they are playing well together as a team.”

Next up is a challenging assignment in Tauranga where they will face Greerton Marist.

“We played them last year and came away with the win, but anything can happen on the field,” Coughlan said. “I’m not sure how they will be this season; they may have a whole new team, we’re not sure, but I know they will be very physical.”
Greerton knocked over Te Puke last week, but fell to Te Puna in their opening game, so if Ōpōtiki play well and stick to their game plan, there’s no reason why they won’t be celebrating three wins from three matches next Sunday.

Rūātoki after a disappointing loss in week one, picked themselves back up and managed a good 33-24 win over Tongariro at Tiwi Black Park.
Rūātoki played an expansive style and scored five tries, while Tongariro didn’t die wondering, scoring four in an entertaining contest.
It was an impressive team performance from Rūātoki.

Poroporo played the competition heavyweights Mount Maunganui, and can be proud of how they performed, despite being beaten 29-0. The team have a host of new players and are still learning combinations but are heading in the right direction.
Waimana were well-beaten by a strong Whakarewarewa side, going down 91-7.
This weekend Rūātoki welcomes Mount Maunganui to Tiwi Black Park. Unfortunately because of injuries and an inability to field a front row, Poroporo have made the decision to default their contest against Ngongotaha.

Waimana will be looking to bounce back from last week in their clash against competition newbies Arataki at the Waimana Domain.