Friday night’s Tasman Tanning Women’s final at Cooks Gardens will be a rematch of last season’s extra time classic as defending champions Byfords Construction Taihape meet undefeated AGC Training Marist Clovers.

But that introduction was a near-run thing to say as Taihape held on by inches in last Friday’s semifinal against a Silks Audit Rātana squad desperate to finally get a win over the northern team and book a grand final berth in their sophomore season.

Taihape secured their return ticket to Cooks by 15-12 at Memorial Park, with centre Brooklyn Walker and halfback Taylah Barrett getting tries.

Rātana No8 Hayley Gabriel scored one of her team’s tries, with first-five Mia Maraku slotting the night game’s only successful kick.

It ended a strong campaign from the squad from the Pa, who thanks to the inverting of the draw from Round 1 to Round 2 had to play power clubs Taihape and Marist twice each over four straight weeks, and came closer than anyone to upsetting Marist, losing 37-32 in Rātana on May 24th.

Taihape will have to put in a massive shift at Cooks Gardens to deny Marist the crown, having lost to the town club 47-5 at home and 64-7 away this season.

Determined to regain the title they held in the inaugural 2023 season, which slipped through their fingers last year, Marist justified their heavy favourites tag for the semifinals with a 95-12 win over 2025 debutants Hunterville on Friday night at Cooks.

Second-five Rebecca Tamati scored a hat-trick, with doubles from winger Kesaia Siganisucu and reserve Meilini Meo.

Also dotting down were prop Rebekah Manu, locks Lavenia Nauga-Grey and Tamzyn Newland, flanker Catherine Nauga, halfback Jasmine Pomeroy, centre De-Ann Tyrell and reserves Jordie Aleke, Awatere McLean-Wanoa and Lyrik Pikimaui.

First-five Maze Thompson-Koro kicked four conversions, while reserve Tiana Kauika got a conversion and a try.

Hunterville can still be proud as a brand new squad to have made the semifinals of a six-team competition in their debut season, picking up three wins.

They scored two late tries in the playoff, from prop Nancy Teika and flanker and skipper Brooke Henderson, with fullback Charlize Cook adding a conversion.

Kickoff for the grand final at Cooks Gardens on Friday is 6.30pm.
 

By Jared Smith