As senior Baywide celebrations kicked on in the clubrooms, Mount Maunganui's women's team shrugged off the threat of hypothermia on Sunday to win the Waikato-Bay of Plenty women's championship.
Mount women gave the club their third title in 24 hours, following on from the senior A team and senior reserves, when
they downed Hamilton's Eastern Suburbs 13-8 at Blake Park.
In their first year in the inter-provincial club competition, Mount have dominated all season, losing just twice in 12 games heading into the playoffs.
Torrential rain early in the first half caused surface flooding, transforming the final into a forward-orientated slog.
"It was a shame because we're a dry track team who love to get the ball out to the backs," manager Diane Young said.
"The rain didn't let up until the end of the game and it got pretty muddy but luckily our forwards played superbly to keep us on top."
Led by blindside flanker Raylene Kirk, Mount were locked at 3-3 at the break following an early Megan Adler penalty.
Hard-working lock Thea Purukamu scored Mount's first try. Suburbs equalised but halfback Te Haurawhiti Teddy sealed it for the Mount with 10 minutes remaining.
