Marist crowned Whanganui Women’s Club Champions
Photos supplied by Kiwi TV
By Jared Smith
The WRFU Women’s Club Championship trophy has its first name to etch on the silverware as Marist were crowned Queens of the inaugural season after a 20-17 thriller with Kaierau on Friday night.
A strong and vocal crowd at Cooks Gardens witnessed a fitting conclusion to the season with the two sides bringing forth a derby clash no less intense than seen in the Tasman Tanning Premier men’s playoffs in previous Julys and Augusts.
Kaierau would camp inside Marist’s 50m for most of the opening 30 minutes, with flanker and co-captain Hayley Gabriel looking to impose herself – smiling after bringing down Marist’s ace and former Black Fern Sosoli Talawadua on her first carry, then later dashing through to dive and regather an attacking grubber kick from fellow flanker Samara Nevana.
Staying on the attack, standout second-five Diaz Gabriel had a crack at the line before the ruck ball was sent to first-five and fellow co-captain Season Beamsley-Wiari, who cut back towards the bodies and dived at the line, landing short but reaching out to score.
Kaierau had many chances to expand on their 5-0 advantage, but after an initial breaks they could not line up the final runner to bust through – Marist fullback Paris Munro making the first of three try-saving tackles, while the defending forwards Talawadua, flanker Mala Faumuina, hooker and captain Kimberley Hunt, named player of the match, provided priceless counter-rucking and turnovers.
Finally able to clear out of their territory, Marist attack through a great bust by reserve forward Pania Pari, followed up by first-five Rebecca Tamati and No8 Te Reo Tuatahi Mareikurua, which led to a penalty which talented winger Alice Ireton slotted to narrow the gap at halftime.
Marist had been turning the momentum and completely flipped it to start the second stanza, as a strong break by second-five Keisha Campbell brought them onto attack, with Marist getting penalties and driving at the Kaierau defensive line in threes.
Kaierau fullback Samantha Rees just stopped Campbell short, but the forwards were there along with Munro to burrow over, with Ireton slotting an excellent angled conversion for 10-5.
Kaierau began to claw their way back, still making the odd error but swiftly getting the ball back from Marist, towering centre Kara Adrole charging free down the far touchline with only Munro able to stop her.
Yet Kaierau kept working, with Nevanna driving close to scoring, before the ball was freed to hard-working lock Cienna Newland, also denied a try in the first half by Munro, who this time was able to hold off the last tackler to score the equaliser.
Marist then absorbed another deep attack by winger Ashley Hargreaves, getting a penalty, and then Ireton made a dash of her own, leading to a penalty 37m out.
Confidently, Ireton stepped up, and although her long-range attempt just missed, Marist again chased hard and trapped Kaierau in the ruck, this time on the 22m, and Ireton made no mistake the second time to put her side back in front.
Marist’s supporters had found full voice now, and soon they were ecstatic, as a hesitant Kaierau backline made some loose passes from a scrum win, with Ireton pouncing to toe the ball through.
A former star player for Team Whanganui in Women’s Federation League football, Ireton kicked ahead twice more, the last just a deft touch for the ball to roll behind the posts, before diving on it for a try she converted at 20-10.
Marist then looked to kick for territory to keep Kaierau trapped in their half with the clock running down, but Kaierau weren’t done yet.
After an attacking burst from Diaz, Kaierau earned a free kick and took the scrum, leading to Gabriel rampaging through tacklers up the middle, before the ball was transferred wide and this time Adrole got a good pass to dash free with Munro not close enough to stop her crossing the line and improving the angle for Rees to add the conversion.
With both sets of supporters and the reserve benches screaming encouragement for the last seven minutes, Marist and Kaierau took the ball off each other from each side of the halfway, Kaierau getting one last chance with a penalty tap, but Marist counter-rucked to turn over possession on their 22m – with Munro booting it out for fulltime.
Marist 20 (P Munro, A Ireton tries; Ireton 2 pen, 2 con) bt Kaierau 17 (S Beamlsey-Wiari, C Newland, K Adrole tries; S Rees con). HT: 5-3 Kaierau.
