Hamilton GHS 44 – 12 Rotorua GHS Review

Hamilton GHS and Rotorua GHS yesterday was an interesting watch with a new Girls level of Rugby for me to watch and for me to sort of think about and how where this could go in the future. The girls game has been growing faster and faster with Touch Rugby and Tag because they are huge contributors to the talent set for most players around the country. Girls are now growing up with a rugby ball in their hands and proud Dads with daughters get to see their daughters play the sport they love. Yesterday was strong evidence to me that we need more 1st XV Girls Rugby played, recorded, Live Streamed and shown to the country.

One of the best Head to Head battles yesterday was between 1st 5/8’s Keira Hewitt from Rotorua GHS and Libby Kearins-Te Whare from Hamilton GHS. Both these girls had such an eye for creating opportunities for their team mates. Keira to me would go great at 2nd 5/8 because she is a very strong runner and I think if Rotorua GHS had another strong playmaker that had the vision and “Ball Skills” like Keira does she would fit perfectly at 2nd 5/8. There were a few phases where she was directing attacks and also watching and waiting for her time to strike which she did,  and even though she was late she still got through the gap and fought off defenders which made me see her as a 2nd 5/8. I would like to see maybe Keira Hewitt and Libby Kearins-Te Whare play alongside each other and just see how they work it out. Libby has Rubi Hart outside her at 2nd 5/8 who I think was the best player on the field until she got hurt. The way Libby and Rubi played really got Hamilton GHS through the defence. Libby was making some good reads going across the field and then finding her runners hitting the gaps. I wanted to seeLibby step forward to the line first to see if she could commit the defence and then had an immediate attack off her shoulders, runners coming short.

The other Head to Head battle I thought was a good one to watch was Fullback Sariah Ibarra from Hamilton GHS and Capri Allen from Rotorua GHS. Capri Allen was the opening scorer for the game and she got the ball through a little fake and found an opening in the midfield and her speed just took over. I thought there were times where she should have taken quick taps and just gapped it while Hamilton GHS were trying to get back. Capri’s speed was on point and she flowed through gaps so effortlessly. Sariah Ibarra was the same with the way she took the ball to the line. Sariah I think came away with two tries but was heavy into the work of getting the ball out wide and freeing up space for the backs. I think Hamilton GHS had some good links between Sariah and Centre Matilda Chandler who also ran some good lines and was also strong on defence.

The forward battles were so good to watch because almost all the girls knew what was going on and their roles in the team. The best forward of the day was Prop Amber Mundell from Hamilton GHS. She had such a high work rate on offence and defence. She was carrying that ball up with a lot of leg drive and even finding offloads when she could. Amber on defence was also strong too along with Locks Vahoi Matangi and Caitlyn Silcock who were all over the rucks and getting in there to clean out bodies. The tackling from Hana Paterson at 6 was so strong and she was driving them back on contact, Open Side Kyah Scott was almost perfect at lineout time and No.8 Mihi Kerr was out there going everything and being a part of every movement and was awesome in support.

Rotorua GHS were really struggling to maintain control of the ball and keeping their share of the possession even when they had good attacking position on the field. I wanted to see Te Aomihia Waiwai-Fleming take a few more hit ups in this game because the way she was running and going into contact she was always making some kind of meters and falling forward to set up an attacking position. Te Aomihi at 6, Kaiarihi Puka at 7 and No.8 Neveah Hira need to get together with Halfback Dani Irihei and 1st 5/8 Keira Hewitt and work out more attacking plays off set piece and also in a Pod because all Girls are good when carrying the ball they just need that time and connection to make that work through the game. I also liked the look of Millie Simpkins who played hard and was really getting stuck into the rucks and trying to maintain possession when they had the ball in hand and her running the ball could be another Pod for Rotorua GHS to try and set up because she can run.

Hamilton GHS had the ball for most of the game and they controlled the game pretty much from after Rotorua Scored early. Hamilton GHS just attacked from everywhere and were constantly looking for space to gaps to attack and they did it at speed. The fitness for me won it for Hamilton GHS, Rotorua were not as fit and I thought that if Rotorua GHS was a fitter team that score should have been 7 point game either way because the skills from both teams were pretty even but the fitness was way different. I want to see Rotorua GHS again and see what they can do in another game against another team. Hamilton GHS looks strong and I think they have a game plan that the girls buy into and they just need to “Fine Tune” what they already have and are already doing.