29 Oct 2017

Canterbury win women's rugby final

6:02 pm on 29 October 2017

Canterbury have won the Farah Palmer cup by beating defending champions Counties Manukau 13-7 in the women's premiership rugby final in Pukekohe.

Canterbury fullback Olivia McGoverne.
Counties Manukau v Canterbury, Farah Palmer Cup Final.

Canterbury fullback Olivia McGoverne. Counties Manukau v Canterbury, Farah Palmer Cup Final. Photo: Photosport

A late try sealed the win and gave Canterbury rugby supporters a second reason to celebrate after the men won the rugby premiership last night.

It was Canterbury's first ever title, after an agonizing seven previous final losses.

Past disappointments were erased as Canterbury, who had been the dominant side throughout, achieved their win when No.8 Rebecca Todd scored her side's only try two minutes from the end.

Capping the try was a superb sideline conversion by key performer and halfback Kendra Cocksedge.

Counties Manukau suffered two yellow cards in the final and were guilty of indiscipline too often for their own comfort.

The home side also suffered a setback before the game when first five-eighths Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali was forced out with an injury.

Under advantage, Charntay Poko snapped over a 52-minute dropped goal to take Canterbury to a 6-0 lead.

A high pass was picked off by wing Lanulangi Veainu who raced 40m to score between the posts for Hazel Tubic's conversion to give Counties Manukau the lead 7-6 for the first time, 61 minutes into the game.

Poko continued to use the boot to try and pin Counties Manukau back but Tubic's positional play, both to receive the kick and to make a crucial tackle, denied the visitors earlier reward.

Canterbury poured on the pressure almost camping for the last 10 minutes in the Counties Manukau 22m area where the home team three times conceded penalties and eventually the Canterbury patience saw Todd have her final say.

In the Heartland Championship final, Mid Canterbury became Lochore Cup champions for the first time when they beat West Coast 47-15 in Methven.