Waitomo Group: Waikato Women travel to Pukekohe this week to face neighbours, Counties Manukau Heat, at Navigation Homes Stadium for round 6 of the Farah Palmer Cup.

Two pieces of silverware will be on the line during the match. Waikato will get their second challenge of the season for the JJ Stewart trophy, after narrowly missing out on taking it off Canterbury in round 2. Since then, Auckland Storm won it off Canterbury and then Counties Manukau took it off Auckland Strom last weekend. This is a challenge trophy that is only challenged for when the holders are at home.

The next trophy being competed for is the Chiefs Country Cup, which Waikato are the current holders and have successfully defended the trophy since 2020. This challenge trophy is competed for every time two provincial unions from the Chiefs region face each other in the regular season.

Head Coach, James Semple, has made a few changes to his match winning side that beat Auckland Storm and Hawke’s Bay Tui convincingly over the last two weekends.  

Chelsea Semple moves from inside centre and takes over from Kiriana Nolan at first five eight. Nolan has been ruled out due to injury.

With Semple moving out of the midfield, Rina Paraone move in one spot to inside centre and Hinemaringi Scott gets her first start of the season at outside centre.

Finau Mafi returns from injury and take her place in the reserves as hooker cover. Mafi’s return means Nyesha Hamilton moves to jersey 21 and will be loose forward cover, after Roelien du Plessis picked up a season ending injury against Hawke’s Bay Tui last weekend.

The final change to the reserves has Kaea Nepia returning from injury, and she takes her spot on the bench as one of two players to cover the backline.

Waitomo Group Waikato Women take on Counties Manukau Heat at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe, on Sunday morning, kick-off is at 11:35am:

1.    Chyann Kaitapu (Melville)

2.    Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Otorohanga)

3.    Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (Melville)

4.    Logan Hauraki (University)

5.    Jade Coates (Hamilton Old Boys)

6.    Mia Anderson

7.    Emma-Lee Heta (Otorohanga)

8.    Chyna Hohepa (Kihikihi) - Captain

9.    Ariana Bayler (Hamilton Old Boys)

10.  Chelsea Semple (University)

11.  Ana Marsters (Hamilton Old Boys)

12.  Rina Paraone (Otorohanga)

13.  Hinemaringi Scott (University)

14.  Lela Ieremia (Melville)

15.  Reese Anderson (Hamilton Old Boys)

16.  Finau Mafi (University)

17.  Toka Natua (University)

18.  Tafiau Fetalaiga (Hamilton Old Boys)

19.  Leomie Kloppers (Hamilton Old Boys)

20.  Leata Puni-Lio (Hamilton Old Boys)

21.  Nyesha Hamilton (Hamilton Old Boys)

22.  Kaea Nepia (Hamilton Old Boys)

23.  Montessa Tairakena (Hamilton Old Boys)

Article added: Wednesday 11 September 2024