AGC Training Marist Clovers took back what was theirs by reclaiming the Tasman Tanning Women’s title with a comfortable 42-5 win over Byfords Construction Taihape at Cooks Gardens on Friday night.

A very strong Marist team had been on a seven month training mission to reclaim the silverware from their inaugural season win in 2023, following last year’s shock final loss to Taihape in extra time.

There would be no knife-edge finishes this time under lights - Marist getting into their work early as after turning over a Taihape lineout, a midfield break was finished off by centre Meilini Meo dashing off to the posts, with second-five Tiana Kauika slotting the game’s only conversion.

It was not that Taihape couldn’t get defenders across the park or up to reinforce the midfield, it was that Marist’s bigger and more powerful runners could wade through them, and after sustained buildup on the carry, the ball came out to hooker Kimberly Hunt who drove through two defenders to score for 12-0 in the 10th minute.

Winger and player-of-the-day Awatere McLean-Wanoa attacked the far blindside from a scrum win to carry defenders across in the corner, and Taihape were gutted that their first real concentrated attack at Marist’s line resulted in a turnover and a swift counterattack, with Meo getting the ball just under 50m out and rampaging her way through for a double.

Down 22-0 in the 25th minute, Taihape to their credit did not concede more points before halftime, and after Marist started the second stanza with some uncharacteristic mistakes and penalties, the home side attacked into the corner pocket, and first-five Trassina Hooper followed prop Nile Poihipi’s hit-up to dive over.

But the rally was short-lived, as from a close-range penalty lineout, Marist No8 Waimarie Rauhina snatched up the loose ball and bulldozed through to score.

Taihape had lost a couple of players to injury by this point on what was already a light bench, whereas the well-stocked Marist side unleashed their ‘bomb squad’.

McLean-Wanoa scored the try of the game when she collected a Taihape goal-line dropout and beat four defenders on a 30m charge down the touchline to get her double at 32-5 in the 67th minute.

Then reserve back Rebecca Tamati sold the defensive line a great dummy and gassed her chasers on the outside to score, before fellow reserve Akosita Marr made a similar break to the opposite corner, running away from the despairing defence with time nearly up.

It completed a dominant campaign for the Clovers, who in ten played matches scored a whopping 622 points to only 100 conceded.

Victorious coach Junior Nepia was pleased the team had maintained their standards even in the heightened atmosphere of being the title match.

“The whole way through has been about being humble – work has been the biggest thing, right next to our priority, which is fun.

“Through fun, we’ve found more engagement, people learning and coming back.”

Moving forward as the Longrun Spouting Whanganui Women’s coach, Nepia was pleased the continued expansion of the women’s competition, now up to six teams, was allowing a longer season for development – very important as Whanganui prepares to defend their North Island Heartland title in a competition that has returned to being six provincial teams after just four in 2024.

“More teams equals more opportunities, we’re able to look at more people.

“I think the level across the board is growing every year. I think we’re in great stead in terms of where we’re at with our selections.

“We’ve got a busy schedule ahead, but I’m so excited, we kick off on Tuesday so a very quick turnaround for a lot of these players. “

Taihape player-coach Ruth McKay, who unfortunately had to come off after a knock, was proud of her team’s effort, although having to settle for being distant second this year.

“I think we were in there for the fight, we had a bit of a rough time leading into it with injuries and that sort of thing, probably not a full complement team in the end.

“But we’re competitors, turned up and put our best foot forward.

“Full credit to Marist, they’ve been very clinical all year and we always knew it was going to be a tough battle against them – they probably had more pressure on them than we did, being knocked over last year after the same sort of thing.

“They put their best foot forward and deserved that win.”

After consecutive finals and one championship, McKay hoped to be able to retain the bulk of the squad for another year, although circumstances showed that as much as the women’s game has grown locally, there is always more to do.

“It wasn’t ideal going into a final having young girls on there and only going with 20, but that was the cards we were dealt, and as a competitor and a coach I was going to show up.”

Marist 42 (M Meo 2, A McLean-Wanoa 2, K Hunt, W Rauhina, R Tamati, A Marr tries; T Kauika con) bt Taihape 5 (T Hooper try). HT: 22-0.
 

By Jared Smith