Women’s rugby milestone

Press, 1 July 1989, Page 16

Women’s rugby milestone

The Canterbury men’s senior rugby team might be limping along a little at present, but the provincial women’s side is walking tall. When Canterbury women whipped their Southland counterparts, 46-0, in the cur-tain-raiser to the men’s nonchampionship match between the same provinces in Invercargill, female inter-provin-cial rugby in New Zealand gained its foundation stone. The Canterbury forwards were put under considerable pressure by a much heavier Southland pack, but soon asserted superiority through better technique and cohesiveness. The props, Lil Fa’aope and Jenny Strijbis, displayed excellent technique in the scrums, providing good quality possession for the Canterbury backs. In the lineouts Joanne Nesbitt leapt high to secure ample possession.

• The loose forwards, Helen Littleworth and Marree Fitzgibbon, anticipated play both on attack and defence and frequently ensured the continuity of attacks. The Canterbury backline unit was superior in all facets of play, demonstrating a high level of skill, explosiveness on attack and a good tactical appreciation of the game. Debbie Ford at half-back varied her play intelligently, Jackie Apiata displayed poise and balance and was an ex-

cellent distributor of the ball. Sue Garden at centre displayed explosive speed and fine judgment in distributing the ball to her speedy wings, Helen Mahon and Faye Smart.

Anna Hopkins, a Southland flanker, and Carol Hayes, the Southland loose head prop, were impressive in a tenacious Southland pack. Scorers:—

Canterbury 46 (Jackie Apiata, 2, Helen Mahon, 2. Faye Smart, Helen Littleworth, Sue Garden, Lil Fa’aope, Chris Ross, Marree Fitzgibbon tries; Ross three conversions) beat Southland 0.