A RECORD YEAR AHEAD FOR THE FARAH PALMER CUP

RECORD-SETTING YEAR AHEAD FOR FARAH PALMER CUP by PETER WHITE

This season’s Farah Palmer Cup will break new ground. For the first time since the Women’s Provincial Championship began in 1999, all 44 matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sport.

Black Ferns and Bay of Plenty Volcanix captain Lesley Elder says having that level of exposure is really important to continue to grow the women’s game. “I am a really big believer [that] if you can’t see something, you can’t be it. Getting female rugby players on the screen for young females all over the country to see is really helpful for our game. “It also adds to that professionalism as well. Now we can watch our opposition, which is really cool from a playing, strategic point-of-view. There are heaps of girls across the country in the smaller regions who might not have got exposure. So, for them having some screen time is always going to help as well.” The Farah Palmer Cup includes seven weeks of round-robin action before the top four teams in the Premiership and Championship divisions contest the semi-finals on September 3–5. The following weekend, the winning teams will playoff for the Championship and Premiership titles. The early rounds played have showcased just how entertaining the women’s game is, with plenty of tries scored. Canterbury and Auckland Storm look the teams to beat from the form shown so far.

The Premiership teams are Canterbury, Counties Manukau Heat, Auckland Storm, Bay of Plenty Volcanix, Wellington Pride, Otago Spirit and Waikato. Manawatu Cyclones, Taranaki Whio, Hawke’s Bay Tuis, North Harbour Hibiscus, Northland Kauri and Tasman Mako will contest the Championship division. Canterbury are chasing their fifth consecutive title after just sneaking past Waikato 8–7 in last year’s gripping final. Their opening round victory over a well-prepared Counties Manukau Heat side showed just how good they can be – winning 59–12. Strengthened by the return of experienced front-rower Steph Te Ohaere-Fox and halfbacks Melanie Puckett and Dianne Hiini, Canterbury also has new recruits in Black Ferns Amy du Plessis and Rosie Kelly from Otago, and Marcelle Parkes from Wellington. Kendra Cocksedge has been named for her 15th consecutive Farah Palmer Cup campaign, with the Canterbury squad again captained by Alana Bremner and fellow Black Fern Grace Brooker as her deputy. Auckland Storm are looking very strong in 2021. Bay of Plenty Volcanix found out just how strong in round one, when they were defeated 44–12 by the Storm. Auckland’s debutant head coach Willie Walker has seven Black Ferns in Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Aldora Itunu, Cristo Tofa, Eloise Blackwell, Charmaine McMenamin, Ruahei Demant and Natahlia Moors. It has been a while since the Aucklanders were champions. They were once the dominant force, winning the trophy 15 times in 16 seasons, but their last title was in 2015. The balance of power in the women’s game has shifted south since then. Canterbury have won the last four titles, after Counties Manukau Heat came out on top in 2016. Waikato are hoping to repeat last season’s run to the final. It was a stellar season under new head coach James Semple, the former Counties Manukau and North Harbour first-five.

FARAH PALMER CUP

ROUND ONE RESULTS

AUCKLAND STORM 44–12 BAY OF PLENTY VOLCANIX CANTERBURY 59–12 COUNTIES MANUKAU HEAT WELLINGTON PRIDE 13–5 OTAGO SPIRIT

ROUND TWO RESULTS

NORTH HARBOUR HIBISCUS 35–32 TASMAN HAWKE’S BAY TUIS 31–46 NORTHLAND WAIKATO WOMEN 17–24 CANTERBURY MANAWATU CYCLONES 48–5 TARANAKI COUNTIES MANUKAU HEAT 21–13 BAY OF PLENTY VOLCANIX OTAGO SPIRIT 15–39 AUCKLAND STORM

LIV McGOVERN on attack for Canterbury in last year’s final against Waikato.