Whanganui club rugby: Marist crowned champions in thriller over Kaierau

Marist were crowned Whanganui champions with a narrow win over Kaierau on Friday night.

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The Whanganui Rugby Football Union Women’s Club Championship trophy has its first name to etch on the silverware as Marist were crowned queens of the inaugural season after a 20-17 thriller against Kaierau on Friday night.

Kaierau would camp inside Marist’s 50-metre zone for most of the opening 30 minutes, with flanker and co-captain Hayley Gabriel looking to impose herself - smiling after bringing down Marist’s ace and former Black Fern Sosoli Talawadua on her first carry, then later dashing through to dive and regather an attacking grubber kick from fellow flanker Samara Nevana.

Staying on the attack, standout second five-eighths Diaz Gabriel had a crack at the line before the ruck ball was sent to first five-eighths and fellow co-captain Season Beamsley-Wiari, who cut back towards the bodies and dived at the line, landing short but reaching out to score.

Kaierau had many chances to expand on their 5-0 advantage, but after an initial break they could not line up the final runner to bust through, Marist fullback Paris Munro making the first of three try-saving tackles, while the defending forwards Talawadua, flanker Mala Faumuina, and hooker and captain Kimberley Hunt - named player of the match - provided priceless counter-rucking and turnovers.

Finally able to clear out of their territory, Marist attacked through a great bust by reserve forward Pania Pari, followed up by first five Rebecca Tamati and No 8 Te Reo Tuatahi Mareikurua, which led to a penalty that talented winger Alice Ireton slotted to narrow the gap at halftime.

Marist had been turning the momentum and completely flipped it to start the second stanza, as a strong break by second five Keisha Campbell brought them onto the attack, with Marist getting penalties and driving at the Kaierau defensive line in threes.

Kaierau fullback Samantha Rees just stopped Campbell short, but the forwards were there along with Munro to burrow over, with Ireton slotting an excellent angled conversion for a 10-5 advantage.

Kaierau began to claw their way back, still making the odd error but swiftly getting the ball back from Marist, towering centre Kara Adrole charging free down the far touchline with only Munro able to stop her.

Yet Kaierau kept working, with Nevanna driving close to scoring, before the ball was freed to hard-working lock Cienna Newland, also denied a try in the first half by Munro, who this time was able to hold off the last tackler to score the equaliser.

Marist then absorbed another deep attack by winger Ashley Hargreaves, getting a penalty, and then Ireton made a dash of her own, leading to a penalty 37m out.

Ireton missed a long 37m penalty attempt, but Marist chased hard and trapped Kaierau in the ruck, this time on the 22m, and Ireton made no mistake the second time to put her side back in front.

Marist’s supporters had found full voice now, and soon they were ecstatic, as a hesitant Kaierau backline made some loose passes from a scrum win, with Ireton pouncing to toe the ball through - kicking it twice more to dive on the ball behind the posts for a converted try and a 20-10 lead.

After an attacking burst from Diaz, Kaierau earned a free kick and took the scrum, leading to Gabriel rampaging through tacklers up the middle, before the ball was transferred wide and this time Adrole got a good pass to dash free and improve the angle for Rees to add the conversion.

With both sets of supporters and the reserve benches screaming encouragement for the last seven minutes, Kaierau had one last chance with a penalty tap, but Marist counter-rucked, then booted it out for fulltime.

Marist 20 (P Munro, A Ireton tries; Ireton 2 pen, 2 con) bt Kaierau 17 (S Beamsley-Wiari, C Newland, K Adrole tries; S Rees con). HT: 5-3 Kaierau.