There is a guaranteed new champion of the North Island Heartland Series as Longrun Spouting Whanganui will go back-to-back against the Thames Valley Vixens this Saturday in Masterton.

In a must-win scenario coming to Cooks Gardens to face the unbeaten Whanganui team on Saturday, the Vixens took advantage of the home side not capitalising on the windy conditions in the first half, plus some mistakes and ill-discipline, to get out to a 27-10 advantage early in the second stanza.

Getting their combinations together and carrying strongly up the middle, thereby earning the right to go wide, Whanganui eventually came storming back, despite being reduced to 14-players twice, but would run out of clock for a sobering 30-27 defeat.

Whanganui ultimately out-scored the visitors five tries to four, but got most of theirs in the corners, whereas Thames Valley crossed twice under the posts early on as well as receiving kickable penalties in front in each half, with fullback Rangimarie Wirihana taking advantage for a priceless 10 points.

Two bonus points kept Whanganui on top of the table, while the Vixens maximum points meant defending champions the King Country Trailblazers are locked out of the title game despite a 62-20 hammering of the winless Wairarapa Bush.

Whanganui coach Junior Nepia knew the little things had been off early on, which left his team playing catch-up and brought the Vixens strong supporter contingent into play - as their travelling girls representative teams and families came to watch.

“But still massively happy, in terms of being able to get that close to them, but they came amping and ready to go and we just didn’t match the energy from the jump,” said Nepia.

Putting bodies on the line to save their title hopes, the Vixens paid a price with three players helped off injured, whereas Whanganui came through relatively unscathed for the final.

“Even more so, we get numbers back- that will really help beef our pack up,” said Nepia.

“We were a few big bodies down, but still it’s awesome for Thames Valley to come all the way down here, play at Cooks in front of a home crowd – but they definitely brought a crowd with them, which is great.”

Playing the Vixens again at Masterton’s Memorial Park is likely to be a different kind of fixture on the unique artificial turf.

“Tactics will change, the speed of the game will change,” said Nepia.

“Taking that into consideration, whether we go quicker pack, mobile, that will be the chat coming into Tuesday.

“The bounce of the ball’s different, it’s a lot quicker, so we need to adapt to that, might even try to move our training to replicate that.”

Whanganui scored first through prop and skipper Kim Hunt after No8 Nicola Chase put her through in the corner,  but the Vixens hit back with centre Hinemoana Collier powering under the posts for 7-5.

The wind played a factor when Thames Valley tried to kick from their tryline, only to see the ball hold up and come down for the home side, with first-five Te Rina Mohi the recipient to score in the corner, again unable to add the extras.

A Whanganui midfield spill proved costly as Vixens winger Natasha Forythe snatched it up and outstripped the cover to score under the posts, with Wirihana converting and then adding a penalty eight minutes before halftime.

Thames Valley kept it up to start the second half, with winger Mali Thomas scoring on the fringes, and then after another big run from Collier, and despite Whanganui managing a turnover, the Vixens turned it back for halfback Josey Hansen to force her way over in the corner in the 50th minute.

When Whanganui then lost lock Catherine Nauga for a professional foul yellow card, it appeared their chances were sunk.

Instead, they grinded their way up-field, ending up at the line, where the ball was transferred wide for Whanarere to put winger Kesa Siganisucu over right at the flag, reserve fullback Alice Ireton taking over the tee but still unable to add extras.

Another forwards rumble set play up, and a long ball out to reserve winger Meilina Meo saw her leap to keep it in play, and two rucks later, Hunt backed herself to power through and score for a 27-20 turnaround.

But Whanganui infringing from the restart let Wirihana kick her team clear again with 10 minutes remaining, before the home side uncorked a great try as they made a scrum turnover, and fired a long ball to fullback-turned winger Elise Fannin, who skinned the outside and ran away to score, dashing back behind the posts for Ireton to finally slot the conversion.

It would not prove enough, as a kick chase into Thames Valley’s half saw Hunt sinbinned for a high tackle, and Thames Valley controlled play midfield to eventually kick the ball out for fulltime.

Thames Valley 30 (H Collier, N Forythe, M Thomas, J Hansen tries; R Wirihana 2 pen, 2 con) bt Whanganui 27 (K Hunt 2,T Mohi, K Siganisucu, E Fannin tries; A Ireton con). HT: 17-10.

By Jared Smith