WOMEN'S RUGBY: Manager Pomana pumps up Maroons

SHANE HURNDELL It was always going to be a case of how long Gina Pomana would last in her manager's role with the Taradale premier women's side.
"You're right, I got itchy feet to play again. And we've had lots of injuries," said Pomana (pictured below) after her 20-minute stint off the bench in her team's 31-3 semifinal win against MAC at Carters Arms Park on Saturday. "I'm lucky I had been to most of the trainings, so I knew what was going on," she said.
A former Hawke's Bay prop, Pomana is in her seventh season of playing for Taradale. She had opted for the manager's role this year as she wanted to spend more time watching her children play their sport.
Her form off the bench on Saturday suggested she could be the key along with fellow comeback prop Nani Ngaronoa and hooker Helen McGregor to Taradale reversing their 19-15 round-robin loss to Clive in this weekend's first round final at Farndon Park.
Pomana was inspirational as the Taradale pack withstood some storming late charges from the MAC unit. Winger Krystan Duffill and centre Shaylee Tipiwai used their pace well in the winning backline.
Utility back Te Maari MacGregor again tried every trick up her sleeve to create a try for MAC and when she realised there were no holes in the Maroons' defence she put her team on the scoreboard with a dropped goal. Centre Whitley Mareikura, her mother Lynne at blindside flanker and No.8 Judith Lauvao were others to have memorable patches for the visitors.
Defending champions Clive secured their berth in the final with a 55-0 win against Napier Technical in their semifinal at Farndon Park. This match was called off 20 minutes early as Technical first five-eighth and Bluewater Hawke's Bay Tuis utility back Tracy Hawkins was taken to hospital by ambulance with a suspected neck injury.
"That's my season over," Hawkins said yesterday.
"I've got two fractures in my neck, which is in a splint. But at least I'm not paralysed and I'll be back next season," she said.
Fellow Tui and Tech's best player, openside flanker Hannah Meyer, received a knee injury which is expected to sideline her for at least six weeks. She hopes to be available for the Tuis NPC campaign.
Second five-eighth Heaven Spooner joined Meyer and Hawkins as the pick of the Tech players. Halfback Lisa Ropiha, fullback Shaan Waru, who scored two tries and openside flanker Sian Rowlands were outstanding for Clive.