You can imagine when the idea was floated about playing a home game in Oamaru again, the Waitaki Wahine players welcomed the news with open arms.
The Spirit play Taranaki Whio at Whitestone Contracting Stadium today — including a curtain-raiser between the Spirit and Canterbury development sides — with Dunedin’s stadium out of action with the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
But the Spirit have made the most of the opportunity, branching out to the "country" to play their first home game of the season at a venue that has happy memories. They beat Tasman 58-15 in Oamaru in 2019.
Cunningham, in her seventh season with the Spirit, was excited about playing on her home ground again in front of her friends and family..
"It should be good," Cunningham said.
"I think we’ll get a decent crowd here which will be good for women’s rugby, especially in Oamaru since it’s growing still."
Women’s rugby had grown in Oamaru in the past few years — with a strong secondary school St Taki team and more players joining the Wahine — and having the opportunity to show them the next level was important.
"It gives girls in our area another pathway to higher levels of rugby, not just in Oamaru.
"I find it cool that there’s a lot more girls keen to play women’s rugby . . . and to be an inspiration to the younger generation."
Lave-Heehau echoed Cunningham’s comments and hoped the game would help promote the sport to a wider Oamaru audience.
"I wish one day we have a couple [more] girls from the Waitaki club for the Spirit," Lave-Heehau said.
Lave-Heehau grew up in Tonga and started playing rugby league in 2008, before taking up rugby union and making her international debut for Tonga in 2018.
But since moving to Oamaru in March Lave-Heehau quickly established herself as prop, under the guidance of Spirit coaching staff.
"I’m happy because I love it," Lave-Heehau said.
She was enjoying her first season with the Farah Palmer Cup team and scored an all-important try on debut off the bench against Tasman last week.
Both players were pleased with their first hit-out for the championship season. They shifted the ball edge-to-edge well, but wanted to carry that momentum in to today’s game.
The development game gets under way at 12 noon, followed by the Spirit -Whio game at 2pm. Entry is free.
Farah Palmer Cup
Whitestone Stadium, Oamaru, 2pm
Otago Spirit: Charlotte Va’afusuaga, Atawhai Hotene, Cheyenne Cunningham, Keely Hill, Jamie Church, Sheree Hume, Georgia Cormick, Bella Rewiri-Wharerau, Leah Miles, Zoe Whatarau, Julia Gorinski (captain), Sammie Bean, Paige Church, Tegan Hollows, Eilis Doyle. Reserves: Hannah Lithgow, Rebekah Wairau, Pesalini Lave-Heehau, Ella Gomez, Kayley Johnson, Abigail Paton, Lucy Hall, Oceana Campbell.
Taranaki Whio: Angel Lindsay, Maree Dallinger-Phipps, Leah Barnard, Catherine Butler, Jaymi Ngaia, Elle Johns, Hayley Gabriel, Freedom Edmonds, Beth Cook, Laura Claridge, Hannah Mclean, Aleasha Brider, Louise Blyde, Eva Martin, Danielle Muggeridge. Reserves: Ashley Rupapera, Bronte Gorham, Mereana Anderson, Gemma Gardner-Harrison, Brooke Neilson, Luciana Haami, Pearl Kahui, Jenna Moratti.
