SHANE HURNDELL
At a glance a 62-13 rugby loss may not paint a happy picture unless ... it's the Tennyson Hawke's Bay Tuis women's team playing regular NPC division one champions Auckland on Saturday.
Tuis coach Albie Hawea was quick to rattle off the positives after his side returned from the big smoke. The main ones? Not only did the Tuis become the first side to score points against the Aucklanders this season they also matched last year's feat of scoring two tries against the city slickers.
Halfback Lisa Ropiha and prop Vicki Peni scored the Bay's tries and first five-eighth Amy Williams kicked a penalty.
"Two tries was a goal we set and Auckland were brassed off when we got them," Hawea said.
His other positives including a player-of-the-match performance from winger Jamie Bruce in her NPC starting debut and some outstanding defensive work from loose forwards Loanna Lelei, captain Chanel Huddleston and Black Fern Marina Canterbury.
"During one passage of play Loanna made three tackles in a row and turned the ball over," said Hawea.
Black Ferns winger Williams was forced to start at pivot as former Black Ferns No.10 Rebecca Hull had a chest infection and didn't take the field until the second half.
Powerful Tuis loose forward Sandra Alainuuese suffered a shoulder injury and Hawea won't know until tomorrow night if she will be fit for Saturday's match against Waikato which will be played as a curtainraiser to the Magpies NPC match against East Coast.
Waikato, like the Tuis, are also winless and this game is likely to decide the 2005 wooden spoon holders in the competition.
WOMEN'S RUGBY: Tuis first team to score against Auckland champs
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