Women's rugby: Cyclones blow Tuis away in Farah Palmer Cup

Tuis centre Niamh Jefferson has her progress halted by Cyclones halfback Corrineke Windle and first five-eighth Elizabeth Goulden. Photo/Paul Taylor

Rugby's women's World Cup, won by New Zealand's Black Ferns, was on display at Napier's Park Island on Saturday.

Fans at the venue would have been excused if they had thought the Hawke's Bay Tuis had played the Black Ferns instead of the Manawatu Cyclones in their Farah Palmer Cup fifth round fixture when the scoreboard read 86-8 against the Tuis at the final whistle. Many would have been shocked to learn the Cyclones included just one world champion Black Fern in fullback Selica Winiata and their second, halfback Kristina Sue, was on water bottle duty.

They also would have been surprised to learn the Cyclones had only won one of their previous three encounters. The Tuis, as the score suggests, produced a dismal display, although they had promising patches on attack.

"We were definitely better on attack. But there is still more work to be done on our defence ... particularly with our connections and communication," disappointed Tuis coach Te Rangi Maeva said afterwards.

The biggest positive for the winless Tuis at the end of the game, which was called off three minutes early in the interests of safety when the hosts were down to 13 players, was the fact this coming weekend will be their bye. They started the match with just two reserves and with at least four new injuries Maeva and her troops will relish a week off to recover and boost their numbers before their final outing of the season against Tasman in Nelson on October 14.

The Tuis' sole try, which second five-eighth Natasha Greville scored in the 36th minute, followed good structured play and patience. On other occasions the Tuis attack was too risky.

When teams don't have a lot of ball they should treasure the small amount they win and stick to the basics. A couple of minutes before Greville's try they tried a fancy lineout move and spilt the ball when they would have been better adopting a more structured and patient approach.

Regular Tuis loosie Tamia Edwards, who had to play on the wing because of the high injury tally, was unlucky not to have an intercept try in the 30th minute. While the Tuis' defence around the fringes was often strong it was far too passive out wide.

Regular halfback Gemma Woods, who played blindside flanker, had a high defensive workrate and often tested the Cyclones' defensive systems on the carry but was guilty of attempting unloads when they weren't on. Prop Jessica Bennett and No 8 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu were powerful on the carry.

Former Black Fern and Tuis captain Amy Williams displayed the benefits of her vast experience in both the halfback and first five-eighth positions.

Winiata celebrated her 100th first-class game with a hattrick. Cyclones centre Janna Vaughan, a former Kiwi Ferns rugby league player and ex-kickboxer, was almost as quick as Winiata and also grabbed a hattrick. Cyclones first five-eighth Elizabeth Goulden did well to land 10 of her 14 attempts at goal and finished the game with 21 points.

Former Hawke's Bay sevens player Rhiarna Ferris was a busy lock for the visitors and displayed her tremendous pace as she dashed off for her try, one of 13 scored by the visitors. Fijian winger Ruci Malanicagi was a dangerous runner for the Cyclones and deserved her two tries.

Scorers:
Manawatu Cyclones 86 (Selica Winiata 3, Janna Vaughan 3, Ruci Malanicagi 2, Sam McIntosh, Sam Tipene, Rhiarna Ferris, Corrineke Windle, Georgia Ponsonby tries; Elizabeth Goulden 9 cons, pen), Hawke's Bay Tuis 8 (Natasha Greville try; Amy Williams pen). HT: 50-8.