Dallinger relishes her time at No 10

Carys Dallinger is enjoying her time in the No 10 jersey for the Manawatu¯ Cyclones.

The young first five-eighth was a standout in Manawatu¯’s 88-0 thrashing of Tasman last week and she will need to be at her best again tonight when they meet Wellington.

The clash against Wellington is likely to determine who finishes second in their southern pool behind Canterbury and qualifies for the semifinal.

Dallinger, 20, has been in the Manawatu¯ team for three years and has played 11 games, but has been used at first five, centre and fullback, so she had enjoyed her two starts at No 10 this season.

‘‘I’ve been waiting for it for about two years,’’ she said.

She scored two tries against Tasman, kicked well and had a field day running in the open spaces.

She said the Cyclones had identified a gap in the channel between Tasman’s loose forwards and first five-eighth, which she exploited.

Dallinger said Manawatu¯ needed to win the game against Wellington after they had lost 36-10 to defending champions Canterbury in the first week.

Cyclones coach Fusi Feaunati was confident the side could repeat their performance from the Tasman game against Wellington.

He said it was a good performance, but there were still some areas where they didn’t execute properly. He knew beatingwellington was crucial to their semifinal hopes.

Kahurangi Sturmey is back from a knee injury and will start at lock, meaning she and her sister, winger Rangimarie, are both in the starting side.

Lock Ashleigh Knight drops to the bench, pushing Caterina Poletti out of the side.

Meanwhile, the Manawatu¯ under-20 men beat a Whanganui development XV 37-17 at Whanganui on Wednesday night.