Champions complete unbeaten season
Marist capped off a dominant 2022 season on Saturday, adding another Southland senior women’s club rugby title to their collection.
But coach Maima Afutu noted that Midlands gave her team a real scare throughout the final played at Rugby Park.
Midlands opened the scoring in the decider to go up 7-0 before Marist eventually started to overpower them, eventually running out 25-14 winners.
‘‘They came out of the blocks really strong and were obviously really determined to give it to us. I’d say our girls were probably a bit shocked,’’ Afutu said.
‘‘Nerves got the better of them at the start, it took them a while to get into it and eventually come away with the win.’’
Saturday’s win completed an unbeaten season for Marist. They racked up 236 points and conceded just 20 through their five round-robin games to head into the final warm favourites.
Marist possess a good mix of experience and youth. The likes of Teliah Templeton, Harmony Smith and Stacy Roderique have been key figures for the club over a long period of time.
Although Midlands came up short on Saturday, the Wintonbased club will be thrilled with what was produced after deciding
to get a women’s team together this year.
Many players from the dominant Blues team of recent seasons made the switch to Midlands which meant they were able to assemble a strong side.
The women’s rugby focus will now switch to the representative programme.
Galbraith Shield competition heats up
In the curtain-raiser to the women’s final, Pirates-Old Boys and Marist squared off in a men’s premier competition fixture.
It was a one-sided affair with competition leaders Pirates-Old
Boys running out 59-19 winners after leading 21-7 at halftime.
No semi-finals are being held in 2022, meaning the top two teams head straight to the Galbraith Shield final on July 16.
With three rounds to play, Pirates-Old Boys sit four points clear of second-placed Woodlands, but more importantly, hold an eight-point lead over thirdplaced Blues.
A Pirates-Old Boys v Woodlands final seems inevitable, although Blues could put plenty of pressure on Woodlands if they win their remaining two games.
Blues missed a golden opportunity on Saturday when Woodlands scored in the last play of the game to snatch a 34-34 draw in an entertaining match played at Oreti Park.
Woodlands held the edge in the first half before Blues took charge in the second, an effort which included two tries to No 8 Albert Qoro.
With time up, Blues led 34-27 only for Woodlands tighthead prop Paula Latu to crash over close to the posts.
Liam Howley added the extras to lock in the draw and, importantly, three competition points.
In the third premier game on Saturday, Star marked their club day in style, running out 53-7 winners over Midlands at Waverley Park.