The Ōpōtiki women’s rugby team have made it three straight victories.
After two positive showings over the opening two weeks, they’ve managed to produce another quality effort to defeat Greerton, 51-12, in Tauranga.

It was another outstanding effort from Ōpōtiki,who again only had limited numbers on the bench.

Player-coach Helena Coughlan said it was a tough contest.
“It was tiring we had to work hard, there were just too many scrums and lineouts.”

She said there were still plenty of work-ons moving forward, including support play.

“We made it harder for ourselves though because when we broke the line our ladies were hanging back and watching.”

Any victory is one they will take with a smile, Coughlan said.
“We did well with three subs … our ladies did their mahi that was required and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.”

Combinations in key positions were helping when it came to the side clicking on the field.

“Most of us have already played together, so we know how each of us play. We just try to keep it a free-flowing game, we have a game plan we all know and just keep it at that, while expressing ourselves individually and having some fun out there.”

She is full of praise for the entire team but a select few did stand out.

“All our ladies played awesome but Jossy (Franklyn) and Blaire (Collier) were powerhouses, turning over the ball, making big runs and massive tackles, while Ocean Hata and Wency-Ree Rewi found plenty of holes.”

Ōpōtiki managed nine tries in their win. Coughlan bagged a double, while Leilah Amai, Rewi, Collier, Hata, Atawhai Mokomoko, Chrissy Lloyd and Sally Kurei also found the white line.

In the other championship game, a superb showing from Waimana saw them pick up their first victory of the season with a 43-17 triumph over Arataki at the Waimana Domain.

This weekend, Ōpōtiki face last-placed Te Puke at Murray Salt Stadium and Waimana travels to Rotorua to face the Kahu Pirates at Kuirau Park.