Alhambra-Union coach Cathy Charles is hoping to complete a double with her club this afternoon.
Eight years ago, the former first five-eighth helped her side upset Pirates in the final to claim the glory in the women’s premier grade.
Last weekend she helped engineer a similar shock against the powerful Pirates side in the semifinal.
Alhambra-Union had to overcome a loss to Pirates earlier in the season to win the fixture 10-5 and book a place in today’s final against University.
The defending champion is chasing a third consecutive title and will start as warm favourite.
But if you ask Charles, her team is on an upward trajectory.
"We’ve kind of been building gradually and improving each game," Charles said.
"And we were pretty confident we were going to beat Pirates in the semis, so it was good that came through."
It was actually Alhambra-Union’s first win against Pirates since its success in the 2012 final.
Charles took over as coach five years ago. She replaced Nan Haua, who led the team for more than 20 years.
Charles played more than 90 games for the team, so the club is close to her heart. A win today will mean she has tasted success as both a player and a coach.
"It is [rewarding] and I’ve had some of the girls stay with me for those five years and I've played with some of them before that as well."
The team will lean on a couple of veterans in the pack to get some go forward. Prop Eilis Doyle is a strong ball carrier and lock Laura Edwards is an industrious player. They have both clocked more than 70 games.
Out wide there are threats in the form of winger Jamie Church and fullback Kiana Wereta, while midfielder Teilah Ferguson is a hard
runner.
Alhambra-Union plays an expansive brand of rugby and will look to go wide when it gets the opportunity.
University has its share of threats and none more so than pivot Rosie Kelly, who was in devastating form for the Otago Spirit last season.
Watch out at the back for Meg Breen and Trisha Hopcroft, while loose forward Bree Thomas and hooker Tegan Hollows will present a challenge up front.
Both teams are laden with Otago Spirit players, so it should be a high quality fixture.
Charles is bullish about her side’s prospects of winning.
"We lost to them in the first round but we’ve made improvements ... so I’m pretty confident [today] won’t be a close match. I’m hoping to just blow them off the field."
