Back-to back Southland titles for Marist women
The women's game has been a big growth area for Southland rugby with Saturday providing yet another highlight. But it seems there's still plenty of work to do before the Farah Palmer Cup is realistic.
Long-time women’s rugby coach Maima Saili says Saturday’s 2023 club final is one of the best games she has seen in terms of Southland’s club competition.
Marist made it back-to-back women’s club titles on Saturday with a 43-10 victory over Midlands at Rugby Park in Invercargill.
Although Saili - who coaches Marist - said people shouldn’t be confused by the scoreline. It was a much tighter contest than that suggested.
“Midlands really gave it to us. They had us on defence for, I think, the majority of the game. We were just very lucky to be able to collect points on the opportunities we were able to get.
“It was a great game by both teams. At the end of the day, we were very fortunate the points were coming our way.”
Many of the Marist players Saili had previously coached at Southland Girls’ High School before they transferred to Marist to play in the senior competition.
Women’s rugby has been a growth area for Southland rugby in recent years and Afutu said there has been some improvements since the women’s 15-a-side club competition was resurrected.
Southland is the sole province that plays in men’s NPC competition but does not have a Farah Palmer Cup women’s team.
Saili said she was often gets quizzed about why Southland doesn’t have a Farah Palmer Cup team.
While she said that should be the goal to enter a team in that top-flight competition, doing so for the sake of it wouldn’t be that wise.
“There is still a lot of growth needed for us to be competitive in that space. But I believe there has been improvement [with Southland women’s rugby]. Yesterday’s game was one of the best games of rugby I’ve watched since the competition has been back.
“The skillset and the level of what the women were playing on both sides, was very impressive.”
Saili believed there was the talent to put together a Southland Farah Palmer Cup team, but more depth was needed to sustain a team at that level.
“Yes, the numbers are growing, but we can’t just throw young girls in to make up a team. I honestly believe it’s getting there, and it is growing.”
While Southland doesn’t have a Farah Palmer Cup team there is still a representative programme put together for the Southland Hinds. The focus will now switch from club rugby to the Southland Hinds team’s campaign.
