The Northland girls secondary-schools rugby team lost narrowly to Counties-Manukau at the weekend, but the team couldn't be happier. Coach Rana Paraha said although they were on the wrong side of the 17-22 scoreline last Saturday, "We've done so much better than last year". "Counties are leading the table [in the regional competition]and last year they beat us 50-something to nil." Ms Paraha said the Northland forwards dominated Counties throughout the game, but the Counties backs were too strong and took the win with a last-minute try. She said women's rugby had fallen off the radar in recent years, coinciding with the mixed fortunes of the men's provincial team, but the sport was coming back into prominence. "In the provincial competition, we've been fifth, fourth, third last year and, hopefully, do better this year." There's a chance Northland can win the schools competition, if Auckland beat Counties and the points scored go their way. The team play in Auckland for the next two weeks, against Auckland and then Bay of Plenty, before a home game against North Harbour at Hora Hora on September 20.
