Canberra Presidents XV coach Dan Hawke says his side's first foray into the Chikarovski Cup can lay the foundations for ACT rugby's rise up the women's ranks.
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Canberra conceded 31 unanswered points to fall 31-10 to Sydney Blue in their Cup opener at Forshaw Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon.
Now they have less than a day to bounce back as they prepare to meet Sydney Gold back at Southern Districts Rugby Club at noon on Sunday.
"You're never going to fix every single thing overnight, especially with a new coach, new systems and new languages," Hawke said.
"You're not going to fix everything in one night but we'll concentrate on one or two things, bounce back and hopefully get the dub [on Sunday].
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"We had two sessions together. That showed today when you've got the Waratahs girls, their comp finished three or four weeks ago and they've been training ever since.
"In saying that, it's pretty exciting to see the stuff we did teach them in that limited time, they were able to demonstrate that skill.
"I keep talking about the foundations for next year, and giving these young girls, that haven't played at a higher level, exposure to the next level to see where they are.
"We have five debutants that haven't played anything higher than club footy all play one level lower than Super W which is good."
Canberra shot out to a 10-0 lead off the back of a scintillating Ema Masi double before Sydney Blue sliced the margin to five with their opening try heading into the half-time break.
Sydney Blue struck first in the second stanza to pinch a two-point lead and it was all one-way traffic from there as Canberra struggled to exit their own 22 in the face of gale force winds.
Emily Chancellor scored a double as the hosts surged to an emphatic tournament-opening triumph.
CHIKAROVSKI CUP FIXTURES
Sunday, November 8: Canberra Women's Presidents XVs v Sydney Gold at 12pm; NSW Country v Sydney Blue at 2pm. Both games at Southern Districts Rugby Club, Sydney.
Canberra Presidents XV squad: 1. Iris Verebalavu (Uni-Norths Owls), 2. Harriet Elleman (Wagga Ag College), 3. Louise Burrows (Canberra Royals), 4. Michaela Leonard (Tuggeranong Vikings), 5. Ash Fernandez (Canberra Royals), 6. Pearl Rakete (Goulburn), 7. Ema Masi (Tuggeranong Vikings), 8. Grace Kemp (Canberra Royals), 9. Jane Garraway (Uni-Norths Owls), 10. Emerina Marsh-Kiro (Uni-Norths Owls), 11. Brooke Gilroy (Canberra Royals), 12. Zali Waihape-Andrews (Tuggeranong Vikings), 13. Gabrielle Petersen (Tuggeranong Vikings), 14. Megan Seis (Wagga Ag College), 15. Talei Qalo Wilson (Uni-Norths Owls). Replacements: 16. Rhiannon Ford (Canberra Royals), 17. Peta Cox (Tuggeranong Vikings), 18. Niki Paterson (Canberra Royals), 19. Emily Sogal (Tuggeranong Vikings), 20. Rosaline Aumale (Uni-Norths Owls), 21. Kathryn Nikki (Tuggeranong Vikings), 22. Pesi Palu (Uni-Norths Owls), 23. Michaela Wright (Canberra Royals), 24. Sidonie Carroll (Canberra Royals), 25. Crystal Papalii (Uni-Norths Owls). Coach: Daniel Hawke.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
