There is a brand-new WRFU Women’s competition champion as Byfords Construction Taihape pulled off the mother of all upsets with a 37-34 victory after 100 minutes over unbeaten AGC Marist Clovers on Friday night.

In a fascinating parallel to the Taihape Rugby & Sports Club’s first ever Men’s title at Cooks Gardens in 2019, the massive underdog Taihape Women had to come from 12 points behind at halftime to tie the scores with six minutes left, and then somehow got back down to tie it up again off the final play, following Marist’s rapid sixth try, to send the game into extra time.

For a player level that is still developing, it was a massive ask for all involved to have to go another 20 minutes, players on both sides suffering leg cramps, but Taihape found a second wind against their tiring opponents, keeping them under the pump early in both halves until finally Mohi Te Rina, who had taken over the kicking in the second stanza, popped over a penalty in front with 106 seconds remaining.

A proud defending champion side, Marist trapped Taihape in their own 22m with time up, getting kickable penalties themselves to potentially send the game into a further five minutes extra time under golden point rules, while having tie-breaker advantage as first try-scorers.

But the big forward pack went for it all with another tap and carry, only to get trapped holding by the brave defenders right on their tryline to get the infringement and an emotional victory for their large contingent of travelling Taihape supporters.

“We put on a spectacle, I think, for a women’s final, and it just shows the degree of rugby Whanganui is bringing,” said Taihape player-coach Ruth McKay, the former Black Fern bringing herself on for the second half and scoring two tries.

“We knew we had something in the tank and we had to give it – the big thing that I put on my girls when we turned up here was about luck.

“Luck doesn’t come easy, you’ve got to create your opportunities, and they did that for us today, and I couldn’t ask any more of them.

“You’ve got nothing to lose, the clock ticks down and what’s going to happen tomorrow? It’s the moment that counts.” McKay will now join her Marist offsider Junior Nepia as the representative coaching team for Whanganui’s North Island Heartland series, and is likely a few Taihape women have now played their way into the squad.

“Loving it - a lot of girls have put their hands up, which is fantastic, and once again is huge for Whanganui rugby.”

Plucky Taihape halfback and captain Tayla Barrett was named player of the match.

Marist centre Awatere McLean-Wanoa opened the scoring after her team won a lineout off Taihape’s throw and worked back to the posts.

A series of penalties for Taihape had them on attack and after the backs went close, prop Jevonte Dygas was on hand to be driven over in the corner.

The momentum continued to be back-and-forth as Marist flanker Catherine Nauga scored after a great series of offloads to cross the line and run back to the posts for first-five Maze Thompson Koro’s conversion.

Taihape replied when a clearing kick took a double horror bounce for the defence – left then right – and chasing winger Elise Fannin pounced to race the last 35m to close the gap to 12-10.

But from here, Marist began to assert themselves – putting the pressure on so that a Taihape clearance from their tryline fell right to Kauika, who put on the step and pulled through two defenders for her double.

Once again, the favourites got into the attacking 15m and once again they executed – with centre Awatere McLean-Wanoa going off an attacking ruck to score in the corner five minutes before halftime.

But just when it looked like Marist had full control, Taihape came out charging as a tap penalty saw McKay run onto a perfect offload to score under the posts, with Te Rina taking over to dropkick the extras.

Marist were unfazed, getting straight back on the attack, and from a tap penalty, they swiftly put the ball through the hands for winger Kesaia Siganisucu to slide in at the clock tower corner.

Neither side could make much headway for the next 20 minutes, the physical play taking a toll, but then Taihape fullback Brooklyn Walker exploded into the match – first taking a long pass to sprint through a half gap to score, and then making a midfield break to get her side right back into the danger zone.

Players on both sides were hurt at the 10m ruck, but following the scrum restart, Taihape worked into the corner pocket and McKay drove low off the back of the ruck to tie the scores 27-27.

Again, Marist proved their mettle as they got the turnover following the restart, and spread the ball to both sides of the field, with McLean-Wanoa juggling to hold onto an inside pass and dive across in the same motion, while reserve winger and 2023 grand final hero Alice Ireton then slotted a clutch conversion from out wide for 34-27 with two minutes left.

Just needing to control the kickoff and hold the ball, Marist gave up a succession of penalties, giving Taihape just one last chance, going to the lineout, and on the next phase, the champions lost fullback Paris Munro to the sinbin for a professional foul.

Taihape were stopped at the corner, but Keahleigh Dygas picked it up and ploughed her way through three tackles to score under the posts – where Te Ringa would get a second chance at a conversion after Marist made an illegal act, and she switched from drop kicking back to the tee and slotted the equaliser.

Te Ringa had a penalty attempt in the first half of extra time and could not connect, but made no mistake in the second half to secure an historic victory.

By Jared Smith

Taihape 37 (R McKay 2, J Dygas, E Fannin, B Walker, K Dygas tries; M Te Rina pen, 2 con) bt Marist 34 (A McLean-Wanoa 3, C Nauga, T Kauika, K Siganisucu tries; M Thompson-Koro con, A Ireton con). HT: 22-10 Marist. FT: 34-34.