Rota's revival sparks Stingrays success 26 Sep 2016
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
- Wyatt claims title Sport
Counties Manukau Stingrays
celebrate their NZRL National Women's title (Gerhard
Egger)
Sunday, September 25, 2016
ROTA REVIVAL SPARKS STINGRAYS SUCCESS
________________________________________
Counties Manukau hooker Krystal Rota emerged as the unlikely hero, steering her Stingrays home in the final to defend their NZRL National Women’s title at Rotorua’s Puketawhero Park.
Rota crossed for the winning try with only a few moments to spare in a tight 12-8 win over Akarana Falcons, as the Stingrays finished the three-day tournament with an unblemished record across six games.
But earlier in the second half, Rota seemed out for the count with a knee injury and needed another layer of tape on top of her usual heavy strapping to continue the contest.
That perseverance ultimately proved the difference, as she drove over the line amid a pile of Falcons defenders with the clock winding down.
The Stingrays have dominated this event in recent years, but had shown their vulnerability this weekend, trailling at half-time of three games en route to the final.On Friday, they had lagged 10-6 behind Akarana, before storming home for a 20-10 victory.
This time, the score was locked at 4-4 midway through, after wing Jocephy Daniels had given Counties the initial advantage, matched by powerful second rower Annetta Nu’uausala for Akarana.
Kiwi Ferns wing Atawhai Tupaea put the Singrays ahead after the break, but opposite Tanika Bell seemed to have put the game into overtime, when she scrambled over late for the Falcons.
“The score says it all,” reflected Counties co-captain Teuila Fotu-Moala, who was later named Most Valuable Player of the final, but who had also caused Rota’s injury scare, when they collided in a tackle.
“There was only a try in it and that try was scored in the last couple of minutes. We knew it would be tough and we’d have to grind it out.
“We identified our starts weren’t good through the tournament, so for this final, we tried to work on it. Our second wind kicked in, but they didn’t drop their level and we had to keep matching their energy.”
Without several of the veterans that had carried them to the top of women’s rugby league, the Stingrays have had to rely on their depth that barely got them home against their up-and-coming Akarana rivals.
“I’m actually really happy with how the girls went,” admitted Falcons skipper Georgia Hale. “We came out strong today, but they just had it over us in the end.
“I think the club teams that make up Akarana are really building and it’s looking strong for next season. The gap is definitely closing and that creates really good competition in the ladies’ game.
“It was pretty even and a strong battle, but we just had a couple of errors that cost us the game there at the end.”
Counties forward Kahurangi Peters was duly named tournament MVP, veteran team-mate Sarina Fiso was best back, while Nu’uausala continued her rise up the national standings, nominated as best forward.
NZRL NATIONAL WOMEN’S
TOURNAMENT
Puketawhero Park,
Rotorua
Sunday, September
25
Fifth/sixth playoff – Auckland Vulcans 18
(Kaylen Ikitule, Aleasha Brider & Rebecca Taua tries; Taua &
Iriana Huriwai-Sasulu 2 goals) Wai-Coa-Bay 10 (Jimi McLean &
Natalie Delamere tries; McLean goal)
Third/fourth playoff – Canterbury 30 Charntay Poko 2, (Michelle Wong, Stacey Hildreth, Jerusha Whiley, Corrina Whiley, Kadison Tyra-Robertson tries; Mareta Pelenato goal) Central Vipers 4 (Casio Austin try)
Final – Counties Manukau Stingrays 12 (Jocephy Daniels, Atawhai Tupaea & Krystal Rota tries) Akarana Falcons 8 (Annetta Nu’uausala & Tanika Bell tries)
Final MVP – Teuila Fotu-Moala (Counties Manukau)
Finals match officials: Antoinette Grootjans (referee), Jaxon McGowan & Mike Rangihika (touch)
Outstanding coach: Mike Linton (Canterbury)
Outstanding manager: Christine Mirko (Counties Manukau)
Outstanding trainer: Dan Keepa (Counties Manukau)
Outstanding match official: Antoinette Grootjans
Best Back of the Tournament: Sarina Fiso (Counties Manukau)
Best Forward of the Tournament: Annetta Nu’uausala (Akarana)
Most Valuable Player: Kahurangi Peters (Counties Manukau)
More Than Just A Game Team: Wai-Coa-Bay
NZ Kiwi Ferns Wider Training
Squad
The following players were selected from
the NZRL National Women’s Tournament to prepare for Kiwi
Ferns trials.
Billy-Jean Ale (Counties Manukau),
Mary-Jane Ale (Counties Manukau), Racquel Anderson
(Wai-Coa-Bay), Ngatokutoru Arakua (Akarana), Tanika Bell
(Akarana), Jocephy Daniels (Counties Manukau), Sarina Fiso
(Counties Manuaku), Teuila Fotu-Moala (Counties Manukau),
Georgia Hale (Akarana), Amber Kani (Counties Manukau),
Janaya Mata (Canterbury), Lilieta Maumau (Counties Manukau),
Va’anessa Molia-Fraser (Akarana), Kimiora Nati (Counties
Manukau), Lee Nepia (Mid Central), Annetta Nu’uausala
(Akarana), Kahurangi Peters (Counties Manukau), Charntay
Poko (Canterbury), Yasmin Puru-Tongia (Canterbury), Krystal
Rota (Counties Manukau), Crystal Tamarua (Akarana), Atawhai
Tupaea (Counties Manukau), Corrina Whiley (Canterbury), Lani
Williams (Akarana), Contessah Wright
(Akarana)
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more