Up against the powerhouses of Canterbury and Marlborough, which boasted internationals such as Mandy Boyd, Taylor Bruce and Kirsten Edwards, the Dunedin team of Malia Tavite, Helen Carman, Jacqui Peterson, Ruth Williams, Shona Mann, Barbara Archer, Vicki Robinson, Jan Hall, Lyn Rance, Beth Brown, Janet Swallow and Faye Cosgrove was not considered much of a chance.
“Compared to them, we were just a team of no stars really,” team manager Janet Swallow said.
“We were complete underdogs. To beat them in an away fixture is truly amazing, and can’t be underrated.”
The Dunedin team hit its straps early as it won seven of the eight games on the first day of the competition.
Getting away to a flying start proved too much for their northern rivals to haul in at the business end of the tournament on the second day.
“That proved to be the winning of the tournament, really.
‘‘We put a lot of work and effort into this and to come away with the win is a great result. It is a very tough tournament to win.”
The result also casts a spotlight on members of the team in terms of higher honours, based on the playing strengths within the other teams, particularly Canterbury.
“It was a huge achievement for the girls. But wow! We beat them.’’
Swallow continued her winning ways at the weekend, when she skipped her Outram Club women’s team to victory in the Dunedin Centre women’s triples championship, defeating Green Island 21-9.
The team was made up of Swallow, Mary Stevenson and Cindi Ewart.
The two victories in consecutive weekends provided a fitting tribute to Swallow’s mother, Dot McConachie, who died three weeks ago.
