• Mother and daughter shine for Clive women's rugby side

Mother and daughter shine for Clive women's rugby side

Mother and daughter combo, Laurae and Raedeen Blake, helped Clive win their first round fixture in Hawke's Bay's women's club rugby competition yesterday.

Laurae, who has played 33 games for the Hawke's Bay Tui, and fellow Tui loosie Niamh Jefferson were influential figures in Clive's 20-0 victory over Hastings Rugby and Sports at Farndon Park. Sixteen-year-old Hastings Girls' High School student Raedeen (pictured left above with her mother) scored one of the hosts four tries.

Laurae is the daughter of former Clive premier men's halfback Ray Blake and a niece of former Maori All Black halfback Paul Blake who played 65 first-class games for the Magpies from 1979 to 1986.

Hastings Rugby and Sports took to the field with confidence following success at the pre-season festival in Waipukurau the previous weekend against two Manawatu club teams. However, it was the experienced heads of Clive who dominated the scoreboard in what was a physical and entertaining game. HRS were powerful but couldn’t dot down when it counted.  

Both Iukikah Faavae and Amelia Pasikala displayed high workrates. Journey Otene and Hirani Sciascia shone on defence. Another 16-year-old, Leilani Hakiwai, Hine Andersen and Te Maari MacGregor scored Clive's other tries.

The other match saw defending champions Napier Technical beat their hosts Taradale 34-7.

Rebuilding after disbanded year in 2020, Taradale, played under the 'Game on' rule, playing a 10-a-side game. This suited Tech also, as they are in a rebuilding year having lost 11 players from their championship winning 2020 campaign. 

Tech were dominant throughout with several players showing the ability to beat the less experienced youngsters from Taradale. In particular, strong running from Michaela Baker, Tamia Edwards and Jennifer Simati. 

For Taradale, who were admirably led by former Black Ferns utility back Krysten Cottrell, No 8 Leah Tuhi had a good defensive workrate and 16-year-old Olivia McKnight also impressed.