Captain and debutant among Waratahs standouts in Super W opener against Force, Rd 1 result

A debutant scored on debut but it was one of the Waratahs more established stars who stole the show in their opener of the Super W season. Standouts, scorers and wrap.

Piper Duck lead the Waratahs to victory as captain for the first time. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

There were debutantes galore but it was their new key minted captain who stole the show in the NSW Waratahs walloping of Western Force in their opening round of Super W.

The motivated Waratahs ran in seven tries with Piper Duck scoring two in the 43-0 trouncing.

The 21-year-old from Wagga ran in the first and second last try in the Waratahs landslide victory.

“Piper, she was really good in her first game as captain,” said coach, Campbell Aitken.

“Having Grace Hamilton there has been amazing for Piper. It’s a real testament to Grace how much she has helped.

“Piper is amazing. She will only get better and better.”

Langley Sesega fends off Ella Ryan in the opening round of Super W. Pictures: Matt King/Getty Images

Duck, 21, hails from Wagga and made her Wallaroos debut last year.

The backrower has so impressed she was named to captain to Waratahs this season.

Coach Aitken sent out nine debutantes in the match at Allianz Stadium with three starting and nine coming on from the bench.

Maya Stewart of the Waratahs runs with the ball during the Super W match between NSW Waratahs and Western Force at Allianz Stadium.

They included 16-year-old’s Caitlyn Halse and Bronte Wilson.

But it was fellow debutant Jade Sheridan who had a debut it will be hard to forget.

Sheridan scored the final try of the match in a performance which also impressed Aitken.

“That was great. She was in our squad last year and about to make her debut when she got injured in the final training session,’’ he said.

“She broke a bone in her foot and that put her out for a year so it’s been a long time coming for Jade.”

Ella Ryan was a standout for the Waratahs.

Aitken said a number of players were standouts for him.

“I thought Ella Ryan did really well at No.10 and Caitlyn Halse had a solid game.

Rosie Ebbage in the second row, she just dominated the line out and was very physical.’’

The Waratahs will now prepare for the second match of the season against the Brumbies on Saturday.

The two teams met in a pre-season trial with the Waratahs dominating.

Scorers in the 43-0 win were Piper Duck 7, Maya Stewart 10, Katrina Barker 20, Adiana Talakai 27, Margot Vella 46, Piper Duck 76, Jade Sheridan 78.