Super W: Round 2
These days, with COVID-19, it’s very rare for everything to go to plan. Unfortunately the same rang true this weekend with the women’s game in Coffs Harbour, Australia. Here’s this week’s round up and the results of the Super W.
Brumbies v Presidents XV
With the Brumbies coming into this game off the back of a solid win against the Rebels and PXV battling to a 17-17 draw versus the Force, the Brumbies would have been feeling confident in building further momentum for their Super W campaign.
It was the President’s XV who got off the best possible start though, with 2 tries in the opening 6 minutes. The first came from Claudia Nielson, who picked up a loose ball from around 40 metres out and showed her pace to finish under the posts. The second try came courtesy of prop Candice Clay, finishing from short range which gave PXV a well-deserved lead after some fast, intense rugby in the opening exchanges of the game.
The Brumbies managed to get themselves back into the game, winning a scrum against the head and showing composure to get the ball wide to Halley Derera, who took her try brilliantly, stepping inside to beat one defender before showing a change of pace to dive over into the corner.
Derera wasn’t finished there. A loose kick from the PXV was picked by the Brumbies back 3 who managed to just about avoid an intercept to get the ball out to Derera, who showed lightning speed to go over for her second of the day from around 60 metres out. The Brumbies then slotted a penalty to take the lead going into half-time, 13-12.
PXV then regained the lead in the second half, with Jasmin Huriwai scoring a try off the back of a bit of good fortune from a grubber kick that bounced in her favour. This was to be the deciding score of the match, despite some late pressure from the Brumbies, the President’s XV held on for the first ever victory their history, sparking some wonderful scenes of celebration at the final whistle.
Reds v Rebels
With both teams losing their opening fixtures of the Super W, this was a chance for either the Rebels or Reds to get their season back on track and get a first win under their belts.
The Reds managed to get on the scoreboard within the opening 20 minutes, with fullback Kuana Lopa bursting through into a gap, drawing two defenders and then putting in Ivania Wong who showed her pace to keep away from the Rebels scrambling defence for the first try of the game.
The Rebels fought back off some brilliant forward play, starting with a lineout around 10 metres out from the Reds try line. The ball was carried strongly off the first phase of the lineout, before Ashley Marsters showed guile to throw a subtle dummy pass before using her power and pace to charge over for the Rebels first score.
The Reds scored again before half time, with Melanie Wilkes breaking through the heart of the Rebels defence, before showing composure to put Kauna Lopa over for try which gave the Reds a 10-7 lead at the interval.
After a physical back and forth at the start of the second half, the Captain Melanie Kawa charged over from a few metres out to put the Rebels back in front. The reds then found some momentum with some players coming off the bench, including April Ngatupuna, who carried from the back of a Reds scrum and managed to hold off 4 players before getting her try.
The game finished 17-12, a narrow win and one where the Rebels will probably be left wondering how they didn’t get more out of the game.
Waratahs v Force – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID.
Western Force have had to make the decision to withdraw from the Super W due to the recent Covid outbreak in NSW. Unfortunately this means that the game between Waratahs and the Force has been cancelled, with Force players returning to Western Australia and who will be required to carry out 2 weeks of quarantine. Not what we want to see but these are the times we live in. But, to cheer you up, here’s some very smiley faces meeting some Super W heroes!
