Rugby: Ex Fern stamps supremacy in final

Clive 19 Technical 0

Women's rugby final

It's been seven years since Clive rugby fullback Amy Williams won a world championship winner's medal with the Black Ferns.

But Williams, 26, is still a force on the Hawke's Bay club scene. She displayed the benefits of all her experience on the way to scoring a try and kicking two conversions as Clive beat Napier Technical 19-0 in the Marsh Cup first round final in Bay's premier women's competition at Farndon Park last night.

"Amy was all class. She and a few of the other old heads made Clive stick to their game plan. Tech really didn't have one," Hawke's Bay Tuis coach Tom Blake said.

"In saying that Tech deserve praise for their defensive work because Clive had the bulk of the possession particularly in the second half," Blake said.

Clive led 5-0 at halftime after a try to openside flanker Laurae Blake, a niece of the Tuis selector.

Earlier in the half Williams missed a penalty attempt in the 22nd minute. Tech player-coach and second five-eighth Chanel Huddleston also missed a first half penalty attempt.

Williams and Clive player-coach and first five-eighth Te Maari MacGregor both scored tries in the second half which Williams converted. Tech conceded more penalties than they would have wanted to.

MacGregor's try was just seconds from the final whistle and this meant the final score didn't reflect Tech's contribution to the encounter. Lock Kathleen Brown made some powerful carries for the visitors.

This was the unbeaten Clive side's third consecutive win against Tech this season. It will be a surprise if the two sides don't meet in the championship round final later in the season.

Scorers:

Clive 19 (Laurae Blake, Amy Williams, Te Maari MacGregor tries; Williams 2 cons), Napier Technical 0. HT: 5-0.

Today's Tui Maddison Trophy third round fixtures in Hawke's Bay's premier men's competition will see Central host Clive in the feature match of their club day at Waipukurau's Central Park, Hawke's Bay Seafoods Tamatea host MAC at Bill Mathewson Park, Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports host defending champions Progressive Meats Havelock North at Park Island, IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports host Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist at Elwood Park and Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical host Carters Frame and Truss Taradale at Whitmore Park.