Skills impress in women’s club rugby opener

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Poverty Bay women’s club rugby competition finally kicked off on Sunday with three teams facing off at Barry Park.

YMP hosted Waikohu and Tapuae in a format of three 35-minute halves.

YMP and Tapuae met in the first 35 minutes, with the former winning 15-5.

Waikohu then replaced YMP for the next 35-minute period against Tapuae and the sides ended it deadlocked at 5-apiece.

When YMP came back for the third and final 35-minute stanza against Waikohu, the break had given them the energy they needed and they beat the Te Karaka ladies 22-0.

Taking the coaching reins for the three teams were Reihana Wyllie (YMP), Sonny Hohipa-Campbell (Waikohu) and Lenny Ferris (Tapuae).

Wyllie was impressed with the skill level and how well players new to rugby had adapted.

“We had close to 60-odd players between the three teams,” Wyllie said. “The YMP girls who had never played before relished the challenge.”

The weather had limited opportunities to practise but the players showed encouraging potential.

Ferris said he was keen to see the women’s competition grow.

“It’s a good step moving forward for women’s rugby. Having three clubs playing in women’s club rugby — especially strong clubs like YMP and Waikohu — it’s a good step moving forward.

“I felt we did well on Sunday. We held the ball for long periods of time. We had a lot of new and young players coming in  . . .  a good mixture of them and those who played last year.”

The competition takes a break this week but YMP and Waikohu will be in action on Saturday (1pm) as the curtain-raiser to the Premier men’s final.