It was the first game in the 2017 Season for Swan Suburbs and they were looking excited to get into the action.
It is just their second season and they are looking to build on 2016 and play some competitive rugby.

Southern Lions and Swan Suburbs put on a competitive tussle for the many supporters and it bodes well for both teams in 2017.

Southern Lions coach Kev Thornton provided the following summary of the game -

"A very warm afternoon for our first home game of the season. Swan Suburbs arrived with only 10 players so both teams decided to go a head with 10 a side, 15 minute quarters and non contestant scrums. A bit of a disappointment as we had a full squad and a good opportunity to work out our scrum was lost.
As the first quarter progressed Swan managed to put more players on the field and the contest evened up. We managed to put some very good back movements together and getting the ball wide resulted in good tries.
To the oppositions credit they stuck to their task well and managed to score a good try before half time. We must make those first up tackles.

The second half saw our own Shanice Parker play for the opposition which resulted in a rare clash of Mother vs Daughter. I am sure the Parker family are still debating who came out on top but the Lionesses and our vocal supporters have no doubt, Danielle all the way.

Our forwards let loose in the second half. Good hard running and good support resulted in good team tries. Our backs kept up their work and some good passing and fast foot work allowed players to create more space and run more freely.

A lot of the girls put their hand up to be player of the day with their efforts on the field today, but that award this week goes to Joan Pilia'e. Well done and a great try. All in all a good effort to welcome back Coach PJ.

Thanks to everyone who supplied food for the after match function. It went down a treat. Looks like we have found our boat race's skipper and first officer in Danielle and Char. Just need the other crew members to lift their game.

We need now everyone to turn up to training so we can improve on our combinations.

Half Time 17-5
Full Time 39-5"

Congratulations to the coaches and players on a great win and let's hope it leads to many more.

Team Selection

1 Char Clamp
2 Alex Cimino
3 Danielle Parker
4 Mary Makai
5 Alley Reid
6 Cheyenne Campbell
7 Joan Piliae
8 Brooke Ruru
9 Alma Leach
10 Melissa Thomas
11 Alley Reid
12 Cecilia Strickland
13 Caitlin Burt-Poloai
14 Peninnah Javapro
15 Rosie Wheelhouse-Thomas
16 Phoebe McSpadden
17 Destiny Baker
18 Tina Rossiter
19 Lyric Ngapera
20 Mahinarangi Clair
21 Marama Hindmarsh
22 Maria Maea

C Kev Thornton

Scorers
Cheyenne Campbell 2 Tries and 1 Conv
Char Clamp 1 Try
Mahina Clair 1 Try
Lyric Ngapera 1 Try
Joan Piliae 1 Try
Cecilia Strickland 1 Try
Maria Maea 1 Conv