New-look Eketahuna heading in right direction

Women's rugby

Considering we are in a rebuilding phase, things have gone well. We seem to be heading in the right direction. Dennis Dougherty, club stalwart Women's rugby in Eketahuna is alive and kicking.

But it might be a bit much to expect them to be among the front-runners in the Manawatu premier division competition this season.

The transfer of prolific try-scorer and Black Fern Shakira Baker was always going to be a big blow to Eketahuna because of her almost freakish ability to create tries out of nothing.

Her absence has been compounded by the unavailability of star forward Perri Tatana-Williams and injuries to two other key members of their backline, Tatiana Tafatu and Laura Gavin, both of whom are sidelined by broken legs, ironically enough sustained while they were playing touch rugby.

There is, however, one major plus for Eketahuna and that is the return to the active scene of gun playmaker and Black Fern first-five Rebecca Mahoney.

As well, newcomer Kate Turnbull adds strength at the side of a pack which includes experienced campaigners like Emma Aldworth, Kelly Hunt, Raylene Reiri and Ange Taiaroa.

In his debut season as coach is Tama Ta Patu, who has previously coached women's rugby teams in the Wanganui area.

In the handful of the games they have already played this season, Eketahuna have lost to Stratford, Linton Army and Feilding Old Boys Oroua, all by relatively small margins, and hammered Massey 76-0. Club stalwart Dennis Dougherty is pleased with the progress they have made.

"Considering we are in a rebuilding phase, things have gone well. We seem to be heading in the right direction," Dougherty said.