Â
The Wellington Pride played their way into next week's women's NPC final with a resounding 48-13 win over Canterbury at a bright and breezy Petone Recreation Ground on Saturday.
The seven tries to one bonus point victory propelled the Pride into the final, probably against Auckland, scheduled to be played as the curtain-raiser to the men's ITM Cup premiership final next Saturday. Update sunday: The Wellington Pride will meet the Auckland Storm in the final at Waikato Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Kick-off time TBC.
Committed and aggressive defence, a powerful forwards effort and the educated left boot of captain and first five-eighth Rebecca Mahoney paved the way for the Pride's fourth win in five round-robin matches in 2011.
The Pride's fast defensive line and offensive tackling was a real feature of the win against the fleet-footed Cantabrians whose game was centred on getting the ball wide to its pacy back three. The Pride's forwards were outstanding, dominating at scrum time and running hard and direct at Canterbury all match.
As a consequence, Wellington scored four well-constructed tries in the first half playing into a wind, taking a 26-13 lead into halftime. They then pulled clear with two more swift tries early in the second half. As well as kicking five from seven conversions and a penalty, first five Mahoney kicked for territory and pinned Canterbury back inside their own half. Canterbury were kept scoreless in the second 40 minutes.
The win was sealed after 50 minutes when Wellington's pack pushed Canterbury's scrum back from the halfway line to the 10-metre line and then Wellington centre Shakira Baker rushed up to intercept a pass and sprint 35 metres to score her second try of the match. Mahoney added the extras and at that point in the contest the Pride were hunting a big win at 38-13 ahead.
From there, Canterbury fought hard to prevent a big loss, although the Pride still added a further converted try and a penalty before fulltime.
Previously, Mahoney scored a decisive, bonus point, try with the last act of the first half, after an excellent, patient build-up by the forwards and a series of pick and drives near the line. In a big forwards effort, Wellington's props, loosehead Muteremoana Aiatu and tighthead Ponisitia Paasi, were probably the pick of the Pride's pack. The two, who had also featured in the game's first try scored by Aiatu, very nearly combined for a second. But held up was the call, and following an attacking scrum, Mahoney darted through to score to extend the lead from 19-13 to 26-13.
The Pride had earlier scored three great tries to take a 19-6 lead, before a culmination of a spate of penalties at the breakdown against the Pride and an injury break saw Canterbury briefly re-group and score their only try of the match to right wing Ruby Tiu.
Canterbury had opened the scoring with a penalty virtually from the opening kick-off, before the Pride hit back with a brilliantly constructed first try.
This opening try was originally started back on halfway when Mahoney fielded a Canterbury kick and linked up with right wing Huia Paul. This movement went to ground, but the forwards all got involved in a concerted period of phase play, leading to loosehead Aitau burrowing over to make it 5-3.
This was followed by another similar movement, started on their own 22 and only ending with a knock-on once it had rumbled inside Canterbury's 22, ahead of Canterbury fullback Kelly Brazier kicking her second penalty to put her side briefly back in front.
But the Pride's fans didn't have to wait long for their next raid up into Canterbury's territory to pay dividends, and after almost scoring in the far corner, play swung back across the near side and fullback Katarina Whata sliced through for their second try. Mahoney's conversion bounced off the uprights and sailed through.
Their third try, and centre Baker's first, had the vocal crowd on its feet. Pride lock Jackie Patea charged down and re-gathered a kick near halfway and stormed up into Canterbury's side of the field. She found Mahoney in support who took on the last line of defence and was tackled just outside the 22. Play was quickly recycled and Baker had a clear run to the line.
Both sides scored further tries and Wellington had a buffer of two converted tries at the turnaround. Baker almost created a perfect start to the second spell for the Pride, charging down a Canterbury clearing kick and openside flanker Shaan Waru very nearly bustling through to score in support.
But Waru was on hand three minutes later to score the first try of the second half, running around the shortside of an attacking ruck and crossing in the lefthand corner to extend the lead to 31-13.
This was followed by Baker's intercept converted try, before a mix up at the back by Canterbury led to more concerted Wellington pressure inside in front of their whitewash and an eventual seventh try scored by left wing Ruby Finau. Mahoney rounded out the scoring by kicking a penalty with several minutes remaining.
Scores:
At the Petone Recreation Ground: Wellington Pride 48 (Shakira Baker 2, Katarina Whata, Shaan Waru, Ruby Finau, Muteremoana Aiatu, Rebecca Mahoney; Mahoney 5 con, pen) Canterbury Ewes 13 (Ruby Tiu try; Kelly Brazier 2 pen, con). Halftime: 26-13
Â
The Wellington Development XV missed out to Taranaki 17-40 in their match at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth on Saturday afternoon.
The Wellington side, were undone by Taranaki late in the first half, the home team running in two well-constructed long-range tries to take an 18-10 into halftime.
With their tails up, the Taranaki side kicked on and ran pulled clear from Wellington after halftime.
For Wellington, Genesis Mamea, Ambrose Plaister and Mana Faraimo scored tries, while Hayden Cripps kicked on conversion.
In an abbreviated representative season for the Wellington Development team they have a possible game against Tasman Development next week before a confirmed meeting with their Canterbury opposites in Blenheim the following week.