In the end, consistency won 3/4 of the finals. Canterbury, Otago and Hawke’s Bay carrying on their form from the regular season to secure their final spots. Auckland Storm, the wild card but the team fully stacked with their Black Ferns was just too strong for Waikato.
With two games left, I trail Vic by 2 points. So I need her to tank out completely this weekend and then I can get a draw!
In the first semi of the weekend, had Hawke’s Bay thankful that halftime came when it did. Northland on a roll, up 11-14 at the break. Amelia Pasikala lived up to the hype and delivered another outstanding performance in the midfield for the Tui. Kathleen Brown came through with the game changer when needed, pouncing on loose ball and scoring the all important first points of the second half. Krysten Cottrell was a class act and territorial kicking both relieved and built pressure for her side.
The Kauri though, they never surrendered and almost did enough to pull it back. Krystal Murray was outstanding and seemingly everywhere. I am forever impressed with what a complete package she is. Between her work off the tee and that of Sophie Fisher for the Auckland Storm, Bailey and I wondered why we don’t see more front rowers kick. There’s a lot of power in those legs just waiting to be unleashed.
I’m going to be honest though, after watching this final and then the demolition job the Otago Spirit put on the North Harbour Hibiscus, you gotta think it’ll be the Spirit that will earn promotion and take out the Championship.
The Hibiscus had a dream start, running beautiful lines that saw Hayley Hutana cross over before the 2 minute mark. That was enough to wake the Spirit up though because they then began to score at will, heading into halftime break up 37-5. The Hibiscus rallied and the Spirit got a bit complacent in the last 20 which brought the score closer at the death. But it was a complete performance. Scrums? Tick. Line outs? Tick. Loose forwards disruption? Tick. Swervy backs? Tick.
My Wellington team played as they have all season and it was a brilliant implosion. They went into halftime down by two and then seemingly never returned to the field of play. It was telling that despite being camped in the Canterbury 22 for most of the 1st half, with the winds at their back, the best they could get on the board was a penalty. They had trouble getting the ball out into the hands of Ayesha Leti-I’iga who still managed to make her presence known through her hammering defence. Scrums were a problem, the Pride getting pushed off their own ball. It would have meant a lot more lost possession were it not for a great performance from the young halfback, Milly Mackey.
She got her face pushed into the dirt by Kendra Cocksedge which basically the biggest compliment an old scrapper can give you.
Can anyone ruin the Cocksedge retirement celebration? Well if anyone can, it’ll be the Auckland Storm.
Everything I said about them in my preview came true. They were on and the connection between Ruahei Demant and Patricia Maliepo should make all New Zealand Rugby fans happy. This final in a lot of ways now will double as another Black Ferns trial and so Wayne Smith should send a thank you note to the Storm’s coaching team.
When I saw the team the Storm had named, I convinced my mate to put a bigger bet on them to win. They had been paying $3.60 for a win which means the TAB might need to hire me to help them with those calculations.
I get it, it was the defending champs at home. But it was a Waikato side without Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Kennedy Simon and Chelsea Semple. That’s some key personnel missing and it showed. I would also question the selection choices which had Tanya Kalounivale benched and Chey Robins-Reti on the wing with legendary winger Carla Hohepa inside her at centre. So I’m going to put this L down to the coach. Ultimately I don’t think Wayne knew how to get the best out of his talent.
Two games left and two champions to crown. Who are you backing to go all the way?
With you,
Alice