TRILLO METALS WOMEN’S CANTERBURY BULLS CARVE OUT EMPHATIC WIN OVER WAIKATO
The Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls’ outstanding NZRL National Women’s Premiership campaign continued with a dominant 44-6 win over Waikato at Ngā Puna Wai on Sunday.
In a nine-tries-to-one rout, the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls outclassed the visitors across the park. The silky attack of Charntay Poko, Kyla Lynch-Brown and Cassie Siataga flourishing on the back of a dominant platform up front laid by the likes of Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe.
The home side took less than three minutes to get on the board, with Poko’s classy ball-playing putting second-rower Karereatua Williams over for her second try in as many games.
Lovely passes from Siataga and Sui Pauaraisa set up diminutive winger Lucy Mahuika over for the Bulls’ second try out wide. Siataga’s superb conversion created a 12-0 lead only eight minutes in.
Canterbury withstood a series Waikato attacking sets in the ensuing period, before Mahuika scampered over for her second in the 21st minute off a brilliant long ball from fullback Lynch-Brown.
Lynch-Brown then put her running game on show, slicing through for a 50-metre solo try from a scrum win.
The Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls’ 26-0 first-half demolition was completed on the siren with Poko the provider again, Cyrilla Lolohea accepting a cut-out ball and unleashing a big right-foot step to dot down.
Wasting little time extending the advantage after the break, Siataga dummied, fended and stepped her way through for a try after a break from hooker Caitlin Sears on the previous play.
Interchange Stacey Niao was next to get on the scoresheet, putting her foot on the gas and out-stripping the Waikato defence for a 40-metre try, before lock Kyra-Lee Westland muscled over next to the posts for the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls to bring up 40 points.
Halfback Poko had the ball on a string again with eight minutes to go, floating a pass out that allowed Lynch-Brown to race in for her second four-pointer.
Waikato belatedly got on the board in the dying minutes with a dazzling long-range team try finished off by five-eighth Aaliyah Konui.
“We’re definitely building nicely, we’ve had three good games in preparation towards the end of the season and we’re just piecing it all together good,” skipper Poko said post-match.
NZRL NATIONAL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 3
Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls 44 (Lucy Mahuika 2, Kyla Lynch-Brown 2, Karereatua Williams, Cyrilla Lolohea, Cassie Siataga, Stacey Niao, Kyra-Lee Westland tries; Siataga 3, Charntay Poko goals) defeated Waikato 6 at Ngā Puna Wai, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Sunday, September 21.
