Wanganui under 18 girls rugby team taught a lesson by Taranaki in Waverley

The Wanganui under 18 team will look to bounce back from a 54-0 thrashing by Taranaki when they play Horowhenua Kapiti at Spriggens Park on Sunday. Photo / Supplied

Lessons were learned when the Wanganui under 18 girls rugby team were dealt to by Taranaki at Dallison Park in Waverley on Sunday.

Despite a close enough half-time scoreline that saw Wanganui down 15-0, the players lost their composure in the second half and were blown away 54-0.

Co-coach Jason Beamsley said that structure was a key factor.

"Taranaki are a good team, the first 5-10 minutes of it was really close, they didn't score until about the 20th minute," Beamsley said.

"Our girls just didn't keep their structure, our defence was good in bits and pieces, but out wide we got five tries scored against us."

It was a big learning experience after Wanganui had beaten Horowhenua Kapiti 30-5 away in the opening round.

"We just need to work on our communication and running structure, those are the main things," Beamsley said.

"Other than that we just need belief from the girls to go out there and do their best."

Jordan Maraku is the other coach of the team and Beamsley said his daughter Mia Maraku was "dynamite" for the team.

Maraku's brother, Josiah Maraku from Feilding Agricultural High School is a part of the Hurricanes under 18 development squad.

"Jordan has been around rugby for a long time, he was the one who inspired me to coach girls rugby when he was coaching at intermediate," Beamsley said.

"It's awesome, I like coaching and I see a lot of potential in girls and womens rugby."

Beamsley started coaching first XV rugby. He has coached at Whanganui Intermediate School and Whanganui City College, where he started coaching the girls team last year.

Despite success with the City College players, who narrowly fell 24-22 to Whanganui High School in a 7s final last year, Beamsley said women's rugby is on the slide.

"The rugby's not too good for our girls at the moment, last year we had the numbers, but this year it has dropped off.

"I don't know what's happened with the other districts with their rugby, maybe it's hard for them to find girls coaches because the coaches always want to coach the boys."

There were six teams involved in last year's 7s, but this year, with only four teams on board, they will be forced to play rippa rugby instead.

The Wanganui under 18 girls play Horowhenua Kapiti again on Sunday, September 9, at Spriggens Park. Kickoff is at 2pm.