Canterbury, Counties in FPC final

Canterbury will host the Counties Manukau Heat in the final of the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership, after they both won their semifinals on Saturday.

In the Championship, the Wellington Pride will host the Otago Spirit, after they beat the North Harbour Hibiscus and Hawke’s Bay Tuis respectively.

The winner of that match will be promoted to the Premiership next year, replacing the Auckland Storm, who were beaten 25-22 by the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in the relegation playoff.

While Canterbury led from start to finish in their 31-12 win over Manawatu¯ in Christchurch, Counties had to come from behind to get up 24-14 over Waikato in Hamilton.

Halfback Ariana Bayler put the hosts up inside five minutes at Waikato Stadium, sniping down the blindside from a ruck five metres out, and they took a 14-0 lead into the break after wing Ana Marsters made the most of an overlap out wide. Chelsea Alley kicked both conversions.

Waikato had been the dominant side in the first half, but they

At a glance

Farah Palmer Cup, semifinals:

Premiership: Canterbury 31 Manawatu¯ 12, Counties Manukau 24 Waikato 14.

Championship: Wellington 33 North Harbour 7, Otago 34 Hawke’s Bay 10.

Relegation playoff: Bay of Plenty 25 Auckland 22. were shut out of the game in the second, as Counties scored 24 unanswered points to book their place in the decider.

Their captain, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, got things going when she pounced on a Waikato handling error near their own line nine minutes into the second spell, then converted her own try.

The scores were level just after the hour mark, when prop Aotearoa Matau crashed over.

No 8 Aroha Savage put Counties ahead three minutes later, with Marino-Tauhinu kicking a penalty to go with her three conversions that gave them some breathing space.

Next week’s final in Christchurch will be a rematch of last year’s, which Canterbury won 13-7.