Wahoos sink Sharks in six try thriller

(CTA): After Rounds 3 and 4 of the Cayman Touch Association (CTA) Women’s League it is WAHOOS who remain undefeated with a draw and a win to add to their two victories already this season. The other significant improvement came from LIONFISH who got their first points on the board going through the day undefeated. In the WAHOOS first game they came up against a feisty LIONFISH team looking to avenge two opening round defeats. In this match WAHOOS struggled for field position in the early exchanges, often dropping the ball through the early touches and LIONFISH rightly took advantage and were 2-0 up at half time thanks to tries from speedster Nicky Keogh and Emma Santiago. 

Sadly for ‘FISH they couldn’t hold on to their lead as WAHOOS eventually got rhythm into their “arrows” (attacking the same point in defence over and over again).  Alison Strobridge for WAHOOS was a stand-out performer. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time – an uncanny skill that allows plays to continue through several phases. Sharlee Henshaw pulled one back and then clinched the tie with another to end the game 2-2. 

STINGRAYS took on SHARKS and in spite of a fine try by debutante Ruth Kelleher and an extremely fired-up Jo Remillard it was Alice Aherne and Michelle Bailey (2) that sealed the win for SHARKS. Tanya Potiyenko may sound like a new Russian starlet on the WTA tennis circuit but it is her touch skills that have everyone salivating as she put in another fine performance, the highlight of which was a scintillating run virtually the length of the pitch only to be run down by the blazing Jo Remillard. She is definitely an up and coming star of women’s touch.

If they had been stung by the LIONFISH in Round 3, WAHOOS went into overdrive against SHARKS running in four tries with only two in reply. AlisonStrobridge capped off a fine day with a score, as did Mischa Kluyver, Sharlee Henshaw and Dana Lowe. Coach Brad Stephenson asked his WAHOOS to verbalise their “arrows” which helped them focus on the task at hand – it worked, as they executed them superbly at times. Scores by Michelle Bailey and Wiki Hitchman kept SHARKS in the game through some superb passing by Emma McNamee but the stand-out performance was the improvement by Laura McGeever. Understandably nervous in her first ever game of touch in the opening match she really got it together in the second completing a number of three-ups and defending well.

LIONFISH capped off a great day with victory over STINGRAYS by 3-2. This was a reversal of the score in Round 1 and shows the improvement the team has made through their training sessions. It was that double act of Keogh(2) and Santiago that took the scoring plaudits but STINGRAYS were never out of the game. Jo Remillard added a fine double to her tally and good performances from a resurgent Anne Dolan, Jo Verbiesen in defence and attack, Laura-Jane Airey and Leena Banenji who is rapidly making a reputation as one to watch for the future.

So WAHOOS maintain their place at the top of the Women’s Touch food chain but LIONFISH pack a real sting and will have to be handled carefully if their rise up the table is to be halted.

Lionfish 2 v. Wahoos 2
Try scorers:
Nicky Keogh – Lionfish (1)
Emma Santiago – Lionfish (1)
Sharlee Henshaw – Wahoos (2)

Stingrays 2 v. Sharks 3
Try scorers:
Jo Remillard – Stingrays (1)
Ruth Kelleher – Stingrays (1)
Alice Aherne – Sharks (1)
Michelle Bailey – Sharks (2)

Sharks 2 v. Wahoos 4
Try scorers:
Michelle Bailey – Sharks (1)
Wiki Hitchman – Sharks (1)
Alison Strobridge – Wahoos (1)
Mischa Kluyver – Wahoos (1)
Sharlee Henshaw – Wahoos (1)
Dana Lowe – Wahoos (1)

Stingrays 2 v. Lionfish 3
Try scorers:
Jo Remillard – Stingrays (2)
Nicky Keogh – Lionfish (2)
Emma Santiago – Lionfish (1)