Hume hoping 50th game will be more memorable

Otago fullback Sheree Hume passes the ball at training at Logan Park on Thursday night. PHOTO:...
Otago fullback Sheree Hume passes the ball at training at Logan Park on Thursday night. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
The milestones keep coming for Otago fullback Sheree Hume.

Hume (28) will play her 50th game for the Otago Spirit when it takes on Northland in Whangarei today.

That follows on from last year when she brought up 100 games for Pirates. She has been playing since she was at primary school in Garston and will bring up the mark today, according to the union.

Hume has been in and around the side for a decade, having made her debut off the bench in 2009.

"I can't remember a thing about it, to be honest. Do not know where and against who. I think I was still in school. It's not something you look back on," she said.

"We had some good players in the team - Claire Richardson, Kelly Brazier - and I was just young. I didn't say much."

Hume was in and out of the team in the first few years but, as she played more, her confidence grew and she became more of a constant name in the starting line-up.

She dabbled with first five-eighth for a time and still goes in to that position at times but fullback is now her preferred option.

With a turn of pace she has the speed to make an impact on the field and scored a 60m try last week in the team's big win over Taranaki.

"I love fullback as you get a lot more space and can use it. I've always wanted to play there. They try to move me elsewhere but I want to stay there."

The highlight of her time playing for Otago was in 2013 when the side took on Auckland in the city of sails and came away with a 29-23 win and the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy, seen as the Ranfurly Shield of women's rugby.

It was a gutsy win as Auckland was a powerful side then but Hume and her team-mates managed to hold on for a rare victory over the nothern team.

There have been a few injury issues over the years and a few niggles started her questioning her future in the game last year.

But with 50 games on the horizon and still having the desire, Hume, a support worker, has fronted again this year.

"It is just a lot of fun with the girls.

"Then you get round the country, get to play in the stadium here, which is a great experience.

"I think going into different divisions is a good way to go and has really helped the game. You don't get as many big blowouts."

Otago has been stuck in the Championship division since the split and is looking to go up this year.

Hume said the win over Taranaki had given the side plenty of confidence but it was difficult getting a read on many of the teams in the competition.

Northland is one of those. It is new to the competition this year and lost to Hawke's Bay last week in what was a high-scoring encounter, with plenty of points from both sides.

Northland has former Otago and Black Fern inside back Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali leading the side round the park. She has missed a couple of years with injury but is still a quality player.

OTAGO V NORTHLAND

Whangarei, 2pm

Otago: Sheree Hume, Cheyenne Cunningham, Amy Du Plessis, Kilisitina Moata’ane, Kiana Wereta, Hannah Stolba, Rosie Buchanan-Brown, Greer Muir, Morgan Henderson, Bree Thomas, Julia Gorinski, Kate Smith, Eilis Doyle, Tegan Hollows (c), Isla Pringle. Reserves: Gemma Millar, Claudia Hobbs, Jess Kendall, Hinemoa Watene, Rosie Kelly, Teilah Ferguson, Trisha Hopcroft.

Northland: Amanda Nepia, Manaia Webb, Stacey Tupe, Jaimee Brown, Savannah Bodman, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Justice Karena, Krystal Murray, Jurney Blair, Patrica Vaka, Eva Fulton, Tui McGeorge, ,Kamila Wihongi, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Kahurangi Shelford. Reserves: Mai Anderson, Bron Hames, Helen Kapa, Alisha Proctor, Cheryl Murray, Tyler Nankivell, Kat Wira-Kohu

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