Farah Palmer Cup:

The Port Taranaki Whio side have been well beaten in its opening Farah Palmer championship match of the season losing 57-5 to a well-drilled Otago Spirit at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, on Sunday afternoon.

The score underlined Otago’s domination although it didn’t reflect fully the contribution the Whio, especially the forwards, brought to the match.

The vastly experienced and talented Spirit side, who lost the championship final last season and are expected to feature strongly again in 2019, led 24-5 at halftime.

Captain Jalana Smith provided the highlight for the Whio when she scored the side’s only try just before halftime. It came following some good lead up play, where a number of players surged towards the line, before Smith sneaked over.

Prior to that, the Whio had started the first half brightly, retaining the ball through a number of phases. Sadly, most of the play was in the middle of the park.

After nine minutes, however, Otago turned the ball over just outside the Whio 22 and for the first time in the match unleashed a backline with guile and pace. Kilisitina Moata’ane scored.

It set the scene for the balance of the first half.

The Whio consistently held onto the ball, going through phases, but Otago possessed a much superior backline.

Cheyenne Cunningham added a further try after 16 minutes after she caught a brilliant cross-field kick from Hannah Stolba.

Kiana Wereta scored in the 21st minute, showing excellent acceleration, but she was overshadowed nine minutes later by fullback Sheree Hume, who ran 60m to score, after splitting the Taranaki defence.

Otago were in even greater control in the second stanza with the Whio struggling to get out of its half.

Three quick tries - to Moata’ane, Tegan Hollows and Wereta - in the first 12 minutes ballooned the score out to 43-5.

However, the Whio lifted a little, with Otago managing just two further tries, to Greer Muir and Amy Du Plessis. Both came after Whio co-captain Brooke Sim had hobbled off the field.

A number of replacements occurred late in the game, including the whole Whio front row.

The replacements had the distinction of shunting Otago off its own scrum late in the match.

Otago won last year’s clash between the two sides 65-0 in New Plymouth.

The Whio’s next match is against Tasman in New Plymouth this Saturday at 12.05pm.

Otago Spirit 57 (K Moata’ane 2, C Cunningham, K Wereta 2, S Hume T Hollows, G Muir, A Du Plessis tries, R Kelly 6 cons) Taranaki Whio 5 (J Smith try). H/T: 24-5.

Article added: Monday 09 September 2019