Eketahuna won't rest on their laurels when Wellington's premier division women's main championship round starts on Saturday.
After creating history - not only for their club but Wairarapa-Bush rugby as a whole - by taking the Fleurs Trophy for first-round winners, Eketahuna are seen as the side to beat and coach
Sid Tatana knows the extra pressures that will bring.
"Yes, every side is going to be gunning for us now," Tatana said yesterday. "Right now we are the top dogs and they will all be wanting to take us down a peg or two."
A convincing 34-12 win over defending champions Norths two weeks ago guaranteed their trophy success.They had the bye last weekend but had an unbeatable six-point cushion which Norths reduced to just one with a 22-15 win over Stokes Valley.
Final points were: Eketahuna 25, Norths 24, Wainuiomata 19, Stokes Valley 15, Petone 13, Marist St Pats 10, Old Boys University 1.
Despite the bye, Eketahuna trained last week and Tatana was concerned at the lacklustre effort that was put in.
"Maybe it was a hangover from the Norths win but it wasn't good, everybody seemed flat and there was no urgency there."
Happily, however, Tuesday's training was back to the normal intensity.
"Winning the first round is great but it's the main championship we really want, that's the big one," he said.
The draw had yet to be confirmed at time of writing but Tatana thought his side would probably play Wainuiomata away.
If so, he said Wainui had improved steadily this season and would be tough.
While the pace and flair of a backline headed by Black Fern squad members Rebecca Mahoney and Shakira Baker would always be one of Eketahuna's strongest areas, he was looking for the team to tighten their defence.
"We are probably the smallest team in the competition so it's important to defend aggressively, that's the key."
