Fairytale finish for Black Ferns legend
Black Ferns legend Emma Jensen signed off with a fairytale finish as Hawke’s Bay stunned Otago in the Farah Palmer Cup’s championship final in Balclutha yesterday.
Jensen, 44, played her final match of an outstanding career after winning three Rugby World Cups and ended with another trophy with Hawke’s Bay, which earned promotion to the premiership after prop Gemma Woods’ late try in the deep south earned a 24-20 win.
Hawke’s Bay thought the lead was theirs in the 67th minute but hooker Jess Bennett was penalised for double movement in the act of scoring. However, the Tui capitalised on great pressure in the final minutes when Otago No 8 Kristi Kerr was sinbinned and Woods crashed over with 4 minutes left to crush the Spirit.
It was Otago’s first defeat of the season – in the final – and Hawke’s Bay recorded a memorable victory in the province’s history after a superb defensive effort to clinch the championship title after losing deciders in 2019 and 2021.
There was a great contest between the first five-eighths, Otago’s Sheree Hume and Hawke’s Bay’s Krystell Cottrell, and the latter was excellent for the Tui – off the tee and in asserting control for her side, who were underdogs after coming second to Otago in the standings.