Canterbury women secure FPC title hat-trick
Canterbury have overcome Auckland in a thrilling final to capture their third straight Farah Palmer Cup crown.
With the scores locked at 20-20 heading into the final quarter of the Premiership decider, it was Canterbury’s big-game experience that came to the fore as midfielder Lucy Anderson scored before Kendra Cocksedge slotted a drop goal in the dying stages to seal a 30-20 victory in Christchurch.
The home team shot out of the blocks at Rugby Park when fullback Olivia McGoverne crossed in the fourth minute.
And it wasn’t long before they doubled their lead through a flying Grace Brooker, who finished off a move that began inside the Canterbury half.
Auckland managed to halt Canterbury’s momentum in the 22nd minute via a Patricia Maliepo penalty, providing the catalyst to claw their way back into the contest.
Successive Canterbury infringements invited the Storm into the red zone and they soon capitalised on the field position when Ruahei Demant sliced her way through.
While Cocksedge responded with a penalty to give Canterbury a 17-10 lead at the break, Auckland hit back early in the second half through Isla NormanBell.
And when Demant pounced on a Maliepo kick just before the dead ball line for her second try, after another three points from Cocksedge, the teams were back on level terms.
However, that’s where
Auckland’s scoring dried up as, following a period of sustained pressure, Anderson crossed in the corner to put Canterbury back in front in the 61st minute.
It was a nail-biting finish for the hosts, who spent the final 10 minutes with 14 players after wing Sam Curtis was sin-binned for a high tackle.
But they held their nerve before Cocksedge, who finished with a personal haul of 15 points, had the final say with superbly taken drop goal.
The competition ends today when Otago meet Hawke’s Bay in the Championship final.