Maya Stewart produced a showcase display of her try-scoring prowess by clinching seven five-pointers for the NSW Waratahs Women in their 98-0 victory over NSW Pasifica at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Granville, Sydney tonight.
Stewart's tries were just one highlight to come from the team that next Thursday heads off on their two-game tour of New Zealand.
Fullback Desiree Miller also scored four tries and kicked eight conversions in what was an emphatic performance by all the team, from forwards to the backs.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Michael Ruthven was all praise for his entire team which led 32-0 at half-time and ended up scoring sixteen tries by full-time.
“I am really happy,” Ruthven said. “We challenged the girls this week around a lot of our collision and combat principles that we've been working hard on. And I thought for the majority of that they delivered well which is pleasing.”
Pressed on Stewart’s performance, Ruthven said her class was a huge asset for the team but stressed that it also took her team – from up front to the inside backs – to put her in the try-scoring positions she found herself in today.
“We’re fortunate and blessed to have some talented players out on our edges,” Ruthven said. “Maya had a great day finishing off some really good work that was done inside. I am pleased to have the depth of talent that we have.
“The continuous message to the group was to challenge ourselves and make sure that we won in the middle of the field to open up opportunities on edge.
"We did that for the most part and that was pleasing.”
Ruthven said the game against NSW Pasifica was what the team needed before their New Zealand tour to play the Hurricanes and Auckland Blues.
“That's a positive start,” Ruthven said of today but added with the tour in mind: “We've still got a lot of work to do.
“New Zealand will be a very different challenge. We'll be up against a very different sort of footy than what we're accustomed to.”
Tries: Hollie Cameron, Waiaria Ellis, Milly Whitaker, Maya Stewart (7), Desiree Miller (4), Annabelle Codey, Georgina Friedrichs
Conversions: Desiree Miller (8), Wairaria Ellis
Tries: 0
Conversions: 0
