World Cup Tui return in time for do-or-die Battle of the Bays

Tori Iosefo brings much needed experience to the Hawke's Bay Tui for the match against Bay of Plenty, just four days after returning from the women's World Cup in England. Photo / NZME

The rookie Hawke’s Bay Tui women’s rugby side will have both its Samoan Manusina World Cup representatives back for Saturday’s do-or-die Farah Palmer Cup NPC Battle of the Bays match in Tauranga.

With their team eliminated from the tournament in England, props Tori Iosefo and Denise Aiolupotea arrived back in New Zealand on Wednesday.

They’re on the subs’ bench against Bay of Plenty Volcanix, a head-to-head battle to avoid relegation after four mainly-heavy defeats for each side this season.

It is also the curtain-raiser to the men’s Battle of the Bays between the Hawke’s Bay Magpies and Bay of Plenty Steamers.

Head coach Sione Cherrington Kite faced the week with further depletion among his young squad, with 20-year-old captain Leilani Hakiwai and promising 17-year-old halfback Briar Hales out of the starting side with injuries, and three players on a trip to France.

But Raedeen Blake, injured playing first five-eighths in the opening match against Canterbury, returns at halfback, with Hales expected to take a place among the reserves.

There’s also some good news in the return of Olioli Mua, also on the bench.

Despite the winless records of the two sides, and the TAB’s odds at $1.87 for each side, the Volcanix have marginally the better record this year.

The side has picked up two bonus points, with a scoring differential of -259 points, while the Tui have no points and a differential of -267.

BoP were beaten 88-0 by Canterbury, 45-31 by Manawatu, 104-30 by Auckland and 88-5 by Waikato, while the Tui were beaten 72-0 by Canterbury, 73-5 by Manawatu, 65-14 by Counties-Manukau, and 81-5 by Auckland.

The Tui match starts at 11.35am and the Magpies match, with Bay of Plenty a $1.60 TAB favourite to win, at 2.05pm.

The Tui team is: Whitley Mareikura (co-captain), Jaye Nepia, Nina Poletti; Caterina Poletti (co-captain), Pippa Giddens; Kaya Whaitiri-Dee, Rebecca Dickson; Patrice Mareikura; Raedeen Blake, Cassie Siataga; Arwen Tipoki, Hinemoa Hubbard, Lua Semisi-Sa’e, Kate Donald, Rakai McCafferty. Subs: Neva Mua, Denise Aiolupotea, Tori Iosefo, Zaire Courtney, Makayla Cameron, Olioli Mua, Reneigh Edwards, Briar Hales.

Doug Laing has been a reporter for 52 years, most of it in Hawke’s Bay, covering most aspects of general news and sports, including rugby.