The Otago Spirit has named a settled squad for the Farah Palmer Cup Championship campaign.
Most of the same faces are back and they are determined to put last year’s result right.
The Spirit powered through the round-robin phase, collecting maximum points from their five games.
The semifinal against North Harbour went to plan as well.
The 42-17 win set them up nicely for the final against the Hawke’s Bay Tui in Balclutha.
But having played some sparkling rugby all season, the Spirit was left bitterly disappointed by an error-ridden performance in the final.
It slipped to a 24-20 defeat.
The bulk of the players who started in that final are back for another shot at promotion into the Premiership.
Veteran lock Julia Gorinski brings considerable experience, as does hooker Tegan Hollows, who has returned for another dip as well.
They co-captained the team last year and are the heart and soul of gutsy pack which includes hard-running prop Eilis Doyle and impressive openside Leah Miles.
Loosie Zoe Whatarau is another key player. She was instrumental in Alhambra-Union’s championship run in the women’s premier grade this season.
Joseph missed the business end of the competition last season due to injury.
The pair have plenty of talent outside them. Centre Cheyenne Cunningham sets the tone in the midfield. Fullback-cum-first five Sheree Hume is a calming influence with oodles of experience .
Winger Oceana Campbell knows her way to the tryline and Te Atawhai Campbell is a tough player to tackle.
Among the sea of familiar names are six potential new caps as well.
Alhambra-Union No 8 Bella Rewiri-Wharerau has been rewarded for a solid club season. She featured strongly in the dying stages of the club final.
She made several strong bursts, one of which led to a try.
Kaikorai hooker Hannah Lithgow, Waitaki prop Pesalini Heehau, University lock Sammie Bean and Dunedin pair, loose forward Rawinia Ngamoki-Moana and halfback Abigail Paton, are in line for a potential debut as well.
Otago Spirit 2023
The squad
Abigail Paton, Atawhai Hotene, Bella Rewiri-Wharerau, Brigid Corson, Cheyenne Cunningham, Eilis Doyle, Ella Gomez, Georgia Cormick, Grace Hastie, Hannah Lithgow, Isla Pringle, Jamie Church, Julia Gorinski, Kayley Johnson, Keely Hill, Leah Miles, Lucy Cahill, Lucy Hall, Maia Joseph, Mia Cochrane, Oceana Campbell, Paige Church, Pesalini Heehau, Rawinia Ngamoki-Moana, Rebekah Wairau, Sammie Bean, Sheree Hume, Te Atawhai Campbell, Tegan Hollows, Vika Piukala, Zoe Whatarau.
Spirit draw
July 22: Tasman, Nelson
July 29: Taranaki, Oamaru
August 5: Northland, Whangarei
August 12: North Harbour, Dunedin
August 19: Manawatu, Dunedin
