RUGBY: Top Bay pair have Ottawa in sights

Shane Hurndell
One goal down and two to go ...
That's how Hawke's Bay's latest New Zealand women's rugby representatives Marina Canterbury and Amy Williams see their selection in the Black Ferns side to play in the Canada Cup tournament in Ottawa from June 26 to July 8.
"We've got a foot in the door. Hopefully we'll do enough in Canada to retain our berths for the two tests against England in October and then next year's World Cup back in Canada," said Taradale loosie Canterbury.
"Yes the hard work is just beginning ... now we're there the selectors will be expecting more," said MAC utility back Williams, who is likely to be used as a winger in Ottawa.
Flaxmere College student Williams, 18, and Onekawa Aquatic Centre lifeguard Canterbury, 20, are the Tennyson Hawke's Bay Tuis first Black Ferns since Mel Kupa played two games for her country in 1997. They rate their selection as the highlight of their rugby careers to date.
The pair also know they are likely to be marked more closely from players in opposing club and provincial teams.
"After playing in the last Black Ferns trial we know how to deal with that. We were playing alongside and against some of the best players in the world," said Canterbury, referring to the fact the Black Ferns are still the world champions.
"Funnily enough we weren't as tired after that trial as we are after playing for our clubs or Hawke's Bay," said Williams.
"But Farah (Black Ferns long-serving captain Farah Palmer) told us that's normal. When you get to Black Ferns level you only have to concentrate on your own job but at club and provincial level you tend to help your mates do theirs as well as do your own," she added.
The Bay pair are two of nine newcomers in the side. The others are Aucklanders Nicole Borthwick, Huriana Manuel, Karina Penetito and Joan Sione and Otago's Catherine de Jong, Shannon Willoughby and Kamila Wihongi.
Williams and Canterbury are two of three 2004 Tuis who have been selected for national teams this year. Canterbury's clubmate Julie Ferguson was in the Aotearoa side which retained the Hong Kong Sevens title they won last year back in March.
Three Hawke's Bay products have also made the Black Ferns to tour Canada. They are former Taradale High School student and Junior White Sox softballer Rochelle Martin who is an Auckland-based loose forward, former Napier Girls' High School student Claire Richardson who is an Otago-based midfielder and former Central Hawke's Bay College student Emma Jensen, who is an Auckland-based halfback.
This afternoon Williams will play for MAC against Linton in Palmerston North in a first round fixture in the combined Hawke's Bay-Manawatu competition. Tomorrow Canterbury's Taradale team will host Bush at Carters Arms Park.
Other fixtures involving Hawke's Bay teams will see Clive play Massey and Eskview take on Kia Toa in Palmerston North this afternoon and Western Suburbs host Hastings Rugby and Sports at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.