Longrun Spouting Whanganui Women lock in Heartland final

Longrun Spouting Whanganui Women scored a 33-7 win over the King Country Trailblazers on Saturday. Photo / Bevan Conley.

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Longrun Spouting Whanganui Women have locked in a North Island Heartland Series finals berth, it just remains to be seen if they will host, after a 33-7 win over the King Country Trailblazers on Saturday.

Heading into a strong wind at Cooks Gardens, Whanganui knew any errors would leave them under pressure, and King Country swooped on a shallow clearing kick for centre Kowhai Boynton-Rameka to score, first-five Jheri-kah Hoet converting.

But Whanganui held tough and eventually worked their way out of their own 50m, then equalised just before halftime when they got the ball wide for winger Teresa Rennie to score for the third straight game, second-five Tiana Kauika adding the extras.

Coach Junior Nepia was backing key players to make an impact off his deeper bench with the wind behind them, and that plan eventually came up trumps.

King Country lost No 8 and 2024 Whanganui player Nicola Chase to the sin-bin for a professional foul, and from the attacking scrum, Kauika ran a great line to ease into a half-gap and fend off her marker to score, reserve back Alice Ireton converting.

Kauika then caught a high kick and fed reserve Akosita Marr to attack down the touchline, and following a couple of rucks, standout flanker Hayley Gabriel drove through for a converted try.

Gabriel combined with speedy reserve winger Kesaia Siganisucu for a deep raid into King Country’s half, and following a succession of carries, first-five Armani Martin threw a long pass for reserve Meilini Meo to pick up on the bounce and score the bonus point try at 26-7.

Whanganui’s passes and runs were now looking crisp against their tiring opposition, getting to the line again for lock Trassina Hooper to reach through for the try, Ireton adding her third conversion.