Hawke's Bay Tui rugby side smashed by Wellington
Crikey that was tough going for the Hawke's Bay Tui women's rugby team ... and it's only going to get tougher.
Yes it was easy to gauge what the Big Barrel Tui coaches Steve Woods and Blair Cross were going to tell their troops after the Tui were walloped 67-17 by Wellington Pride at the Hutt Recreation Ground today.
"The girls got a lesson about what it's like to be taking on Premiership teams. And Canterbury will be another step up next week," Woods said referring to the Bay's Farah Palmer Cup third round clash against the Premiership champions at Napier's McLean Park next Saturday.
Canterbury thrashed last year's Championship winners Otago 85-10 today. Last weekend Otago beat 2019 Championship runners-up Hawke's Bay 29-20.
Hawke's Bay's one-on-one defensive systems in the backs as well as their line speed will require plenty of attention this week. Hawke's Bay trailed 31-17 at halftime.
Captain and hooker Forne Burkin, second five-eighth Michaela Baker and winger Harmony Kautai scored the Bay's tries. Winger Kaitlin Bates kicked a conversion.
Sixteen-year-old Kautai was making her debut for the Tui.
"Harmony put her body on the line and while there were a few learnings for her we were pretty happy with her game," Woods said.
Burkin had a high defensive workrate and secured two turnovers for her team. Openside flanker Niamh Jefferson again impressed with her input and locks Lara Kendrick and Nina Pineaha were tireless workers.
Halfback Emma Jensen again shone with her tactical kicking and promising centre Amelia Pasikala again displayed glimpses of her enormous potential.
