Rugby: Alhambra-Union closes on 1000 points

The scoreboard cannot cope as the Alhambra-Union women's rugby team records 101 points against...
The scoreboard cannot cope as the Alhambra-Union women's rugby team records 101 points against University at the University Oval in May. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Alhambra-Union has two targets tomorrow - to win its third consecutive women's banner and to score 1000 points for the season.

Alhambra-Union has scored 960 points in its 11 games this season, and needs another 40 against Pirates in the final to reach the target.

It has been a brilliant effort by the team, which has topped 100 points in five of its games.

The highest score was in last Saturday's semifinal, when it beat Mataura 142-0.

It has reached 100 points in its other two games against Mataura with wins of 111-0 and 117-0.

Alhambra-Union's other scores over 100 were against city sides, when it beat Kaikorai 114-0 and University 103-0.

The star of the team has been utility back Kelly Brazier, who has scored 368 points with 79 conversions and 24 tries.

Black Ferns winger Carla Hohepa has used her speed to score 27 tries and score 135 points.

Ang Taylor, the other wing, has scored 19 tries and needs just one more try to score 100 points for the season.

Another key player in the backline is centre Ashley Hooper, with her skilled distribution skills.

The loose forwards are key to Alhambra-Union's try scoring exploits, with their skills at the breakdown and their ability to support the ball carrier.

The team has five loose forwards - Kerry Stoddart, Ngamamae Rapata, Megan Kane, Nicky Crawford and Rachel Scott.

Stoddart and Kane both live in Southland and travel to Dunedin each week for games.

Stoddart started playing rugby for the club eight years ago when she was a pupil at Logan Park High School.

Nanette Haua, the coach since 1991, is the most experienced women's coach in the country.

The assistant coach is former Black Fern Jacinta Nielsen, and the manager is Geoff Simons.

Alhambra-Union plays Pirates in the final at the University Oval tomorrow at 1pm.

 


Alhambra-Union
2009 record

Played: 11, all won
Points: 960 for, 17 against
Highest win: 142-0 v Mataura
Most individual points: Kelly Brazier 368
Most tries: Carla Hohepa 27, Brazier 24, Ang Taylor 19

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