Prem women dig deep for win

By Josh Garry

The Premier men went down to Mt Albert 22-16 in their final game, while the Premier 1st side came back from 30 – 10 down at half time to win 42 – 34, and finish the regular season unbeaten.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is what you sing when you have no words to describe something, and I imagine that feeling would have been the general consensus from the fans of both clubs that turned up to Paparoa Park in numbers on Sunday, to watch Howick Hornets Premier Women take on the Manukau Magpies in their knock out semi final.

The ladies in this Hornets team, passionately led by their coach James Sarah, have had a season you could quite literally write a book about.

On the field, they have travelled around Auckland to take on all comers in what is an incredibly strong competition and, more often than not, come away with the two points.

Although after watching this team together this season and knowing some of the challenges the team have overcome to get to this point, they deserve to feel like winners irrespective of the results.

One particular hurdle for James and his team leading into Sunday’s game would have been too high for most to even see over.

Due to what is partly a by-product of a long season, and partly a participation factor due largely to Covid, the ladies knew they were turning up to play a semi-final with only 14 players – 3 short of the maximum 17 that Manukau had.

With the first half going try for try, it was only two key conversions that kept the Hornets in front 12-8 at half-time.

The effort, skill and determination from both sides had been incredible up to this point and it was evident to anyone watching, getting this win meant the world to the players, although the first half couldn’t hold a candle to what was to follow in the second stanza.

Manukau came out firing, scoring two unconverted tries in the first 10 minutes taking the score to 12-16, and at the same time asking the Hornets to find another level, and believe like never before.

The game intensified noticeably with the next 10-or-so minutes spent relentlessly battling for advantage.

The Hornets scrambled well in defence when required, although it wasn’t enough to stop the Magpies crossing the line again with inches to spare in the left corner.

Kicking into the wind, the conversion attempt was struck beautifully, fortunately for Howick the kick just faded away, leaving the score at 12 – 20 and the home side now requiring two trys to at least get even.

Whatever was said in that huddle while waiting for the kick – we fans may never know but, by crikey, did it do the trick.

With only about 10 minutes remaining, they were down to no substitutes, and requiring 2 tries – all while keeping the opposition scoreless.

Such a thought on any other day is almost incomprehensible in rugby league talk but the glass is always half full for this group and everyone in the ground could sense that this contest was far from over.

What followed was a display of team spirit and determination that rivals that of the best to be witnessed at Paparoa Park.

The forward pack rolled up their sleeves and found the energy to absolutely dominate Manukau in the middle, an effort led honourably by co-captain Peta Gale and her front row partner Tulu Aipolo.

Their efforts gave the faster girls time and room to work and nobody took advantage of this like Howick’s dummy half Zayde Sarah-Baldwin, picking her times to run to perfection and chewing up metres at will.

This roll-on soon paid dividends with Howick crossing for a try wide of the posts, with this conversion missing it left the ladies needing a converted try to win.

The home side were rightfully out on their feet, but with two minutes left knew it was now or never.

Another impressive set in attack saw the Hornets score again alongside the posts, leaving it up to kicker Mere Asafo-Tavita to seal the win 22 – 20, in what was a fairy tale finish even Disney couldn’t script.

Not once did they put their head down, nor did their belief in themselves fade one bit.
Given the task that confronted these women, this was surely one of the most inspirational team efforts ever produced at Paparoa Park.

• The Premier 1st semi-final is at Paparoa Park this Saturday, 12:45pm vs Point Chevalier Pirates.