The AshHutt girls took on Roncalli College in their brand new playing strip at Celtic on Wednesday night. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayAfter weeks on the road, the AshHutt girls’ rugby first XV finally got to play their first home game of the season on Wednesday night, and they made the most of the opportunity.

They gave their brand new playing strip the perfect debut, coming away with a 20-10 win over Timaru’s Roncalli College, although the Ashburton College and Mount Hutt College combined side didn’t have it all their own way at Celtic.

Roncalli always brought a rough and ready game to the table, and Wednesday was no exception, with the AshHutt girls put off their stride and going down a try early on.

They finally wore the opposition down though, gaining a bit of ascendancy and the tight forwards – particularly the front row of Sophie Adkins, Emma Rollinson and Jess Smith – dominating at set pieces and especially at scrum time, coach Grant Elvines said.

When a sustained period of attack resulted in a penalty five metres out from the Roncalli line, quick thinking by number eight Aidan Elvines saw her crash over from the quick tap for AshHutt’s first try.

From that point on AshHutt had the bulk of territory and possession and Madison Trusler-Clark scored out wide late in the half to send her side to the break 10-5 up.

The second half continued to be a torrid and at times bad tempered affair, but the AshHutt girls kept their composure and could have been well ahead, if it hadn’t been for some poor option taking and good Roncalli goal-line defence which kept the score in check.

Eventually the pressure did tell though, with tries to Megan Hurley and Manee Mannex-Peter extending their side’s lead, and a late Roncalli consolation try making for a final score of 20-10, which probably was a bit flattering to Roncalli, coach Elvines said.

He said forwards Grace Bleach, Megan Hurley and Tyla Harraway were into everything boots and all, while wing Tara Mellish was getting better with every game, and Olivia Bishop – who filled in at centre – was the female equivalent of Conrad Smith.

However, fullback Naumai Terekia showed she was more like Buck Shelford, playing the last 10 minutes with a bent and broken finger.

The win was AshHutt’s third of the season and this week they are set to head to Methven to play Craighead at 5pm on Wednes-day.

Meanwhile, the Mid Canterbury Combined boys’ team in the Crusaders region secondary schools’ rugby competition will be up against it today.

They’re yet to win a game in the UC Championship this season and today they’re in Christchurch to play the team that’s top-of-the-table, St Andrews.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 June 2019