Loss leaves team hungry
It was one of the most exciting games Porirua Park has seen, but Northern United came up short.
The Wellington women’s club rugby final pitted the two form teams in Wellington together, with Norths taking on first-round trophy winners OrientalRongotai.
After rain most of the week, the bumper crowd of more than 1500 was greeted with sunny skies.
The home side were favourites but an excellent forward display and attacking brilliance from Ories saw them deserved winners, 32-24.
Player of the day for Norths was lively halfback Aggie Dean, while captain and prop Moana Aiatu also had an excellent game.
Ories led 17-12 at the break, in a half of rugby that was underlined by some defensive lapses by both teams.
Ories scored early but Dean hit back with a fine solo try, ducking her way through a ruck and scooting 25 metres to score.
A great run by Aiatu and finish by Marley Kelemete kept it close at the end of the first half, but Ories were the much better team in the second spell and deserved the Victoria Tavern Trophy win.
Norths coach Aimee Sutorius said it was a successful season, despite the disappointment of losing the big one.
‘‘We only had three losses and our for and against was pretty good [scored 281 points in round two, conceded 40] and for me, having 37 players to call on was big,’’ she said. ‘‘ We had a lot of injuries, and three players out for the World Cup, but there are a lot of young players coming through.’’
Sutorius said the Wellington club competition was going through a strong period, with clubs like Ories, Avalon and Wainui showing good talent and depth.
Although Tawa were wellbeaten most weeks in their debut season, Sutorius paid tribute to them for never lying down.
There was also a silver lining to Norths’ loss in the final, Sutorius said – many of the team will want to come back and win it next season.
‘‘We have a great core of experienced players and they’re helping to develop the younger ones and pushing them to be better,’’ she said.
‘‘You can bet everyone’s hungry for next year, with a few of the girls looking to retire on a high.’’
Eight Norths players will wear representative colours in the women’s provincial competition, which starts this weekend.