Hoskin’s heroics give Marist decider in thriller
Centre Fern Hoskin brought the Tasman women’s club rugby season to a fitting climax when her last-minute try secured Marist a pulsating 27-25 win over Motueka High School on Saturday.
The two teams couldn’t be separated in the season’s Trafalgar Park decider as the lead changed constantly throughout an entertaining contest.
Each team scored five tries, with Marist fullback Bethan Manners kicking the game’s only successful conversion to ultimately give Marist their winning edge.
It needed the strong-running Hoskin’s desperate dash into the corner with time up to score her second try of the match after Motu-
(Fern Hoskin 2, Katie Silcock, Bethan Manners, Bex Watene tries, Manners con)
(Sydnee Wilkins 2, Lyric Siaki, Tangiwai Koopu, Faiga Siaki tries) HT: 12-10. eka had appeared set to steal victory.
Marist had led 12-10 at the break following first half tries to bruising No 8 Katie Silcock and Manners, matching the efforts of Motueka halfback Lyric Siaki and lock Tangiwai Koopu as neither side was able to seize the initiative.
Motueka fullback Sydnee Wilkins combined effectively with first five-eighth Risi Pouri-Lane in a couple of successful blindside attacks to score two second half tries, sandwiching a well-taken try to Marist winger Bex Watene in the corner.
Hoskin’s first try from a stun- ning 60m run by the powerful centre put Marist ahead 22-20 but when hooker Faiga Siaki powered across to give Motueka a 25-22 lead with just three minutes remaining, it appeared to be game over.
Hoskin delivered again at the death to give Marist back-to-back titles.
Hoskin, No 10 Dana Wilson and No 8 Silcock were at the heart of Marist’s success, while front rowers Nike Schofer, Siaki and Tui Henry provided plenty of goforward for Motueka.
Meanwhile in Collingwood, home team Collingwood beat Riwaka 15-8 in the division two men’s final.