Three-time champs power into decider
The balance of power in the Farah Palmer Cup is with Canterbury after overcoming Auckland 36-21 in yesterday’s semifinal — but the three-time reigning champions were seriously tested at Christchurch’s Rugby Park.
Canterbury cruised through the south pool and finished top having scored 331 points in five emphatic wins, earning a home semifinal, but Auckland were a far greater challenge.
In a repeat of last year’s final that Canterbury won 30-20 for a third successive title, second five-eighth Liv McGoverne’s hattrick clinched Canterbury’s place in the decider for the fourth year running.
Auckland’s wait for a first title since 2015, after winning 15 from 16 since the women’s national provincial championship began in 1999, goes on, but they threw everything at a Canterbury side inspired by livewire Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge.
Her speed around the ruck caught Auckland napping at key moments and she guided the red-and-blacks in a nervous win that was only secure once lock Cindy Nelles scored a try with 11 minutes left.
Auckland, after losing to Waikato 26-17 last week, were lucky to advance to the semifinals after tying with Northland and Counties Manukau on 21 points, but progressed as runners-up from the north pool, thanks to the tiebreaker rules.
Auckland had Canterbury on the back foot for long periods, but the three-time champs crucially struck with three tries in seven minutes either side of halftime and went to the sheds with a 9-point lead.
Canterbury were being
exposed out wide and Auckland were making inroads with far more of the ball, but errors cost them dearly. Auckland, with Black Ferns Eloise Blackwell and Charmaine McMenamin, were always competing physically and still in the contest.
Both sides seemed nervous in the heat of a semifinal, but were willing to chance their arm and Auckland, as underdogs, were putting Canterbury under pressure in the first quarter.
Princess Elliot’s try after a wonderful surge down the left wing saw the visitors take the lead after Maliepo’s earlier penalty goal.
But as soon as Canterbury got into Auckland’s half, Cocksedge was driving her side forward again.