The Town women’s rugby league team is focussed on winning the second leg of the Conan’s Cup series this weekend to keep their title hopes alive.

Town lost to defending champions Country 20-24 in the first match of the Conan Cup series last Friday at Victoria Park in Tupapa.

Despite the loss the team made up of players from Lady Panthers and Lady Eel walked away with the player of the match trophy to Jamie Gotty.

Town needs to win the second leg of the series to be held at Nukupure Park in Ngatangiia this Saturday to keep their title hopes alive.

Team Town co-captain Kiana Sword-Tua said they will try to execute their game plan properly in game two.

“I think on Friday last week we had a short turnaround, we only had one or two days of good training,” Sword-Tua said.

“We have come into this week wanting to win because we know that if we lose, we lose the cup. So we want to take this next game as a third decider.”

Country side is made up of top players from the 2023 domestic competition champions Lady Bears and Lady Bulldogs teams.

The defending champions are looking to come up with a better game plan and structure for this Saturday’s game to seal the series.

Country’s Tehinnah Tatuava said: “We do have our game plan and have been training throughout the whole week.”

Tatuava said in the first game, Town gave them a good challenge and they expect a tougher battle in game two.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match.”

Tatuava said for some players this was their first time playing together as a team.

“We’ll work on a few things to improve. Hope to see more people come over and support women’s rugby.”

Both teams have called for support. The Town versus the Country match will kick off at 2.30pm before the second leg of the Cook Islands Rugby League Tri Nations Series between Fiji-Tabusoro Residents and Samoa/Tonga-Residents.

“We have the women’s match before the men’s, it would be good to see some come and see the women show some footy out there,” said Tatuava.

The Conan’s Cup series is held in honour of a man who had a passion for league, the late Colin (Conan) Ngari Munokoa-Tini.

Remembered “as the big man with the big heart”, Munokoa-Tini was the eldest son of former MP for Nikao, Ngamau Munokoa and her husband Ngari, and passed away at the age of 45 in 2010.

He was a former president of the Arorangi Bears Rugby League Club, a huge supporter of the Avatiu Eels Rugby League Club, and was heavily involved in the referee’s association and junior development