Waitomo Group: Waikato Women have booked themselves a home final in the Farah Palmer Cup, with a 69-12 hammering of Auckland Storm at FMG Stadium Waikato. 

The home team would open the scoring around the 5 minute mark, when Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu stormed over for the first try. Mahutariki-Fakalelu was given the ball around the Auckland 22 and after a dummy pass, she would get the better of the first tackler to go through the gap. She would then use her strength to bump off two players to crash over. Kaea Nepia was successful with the conversion and Waikato led 7-0.

Waikato would go in again this time Mia Anderson scoring her first of two for the afternoon, after she found a gap in the Auckland defence to slide through for the home team's second. Nepia added the extras from the left hand upright and Waikato extended their advantage to 14 after 13 minutes.

Individual brilliance led to Nepia adding a try to her points telly when she crossed 3 minutes later. After a scrum at midfield, Chyna Hohepa, would take it off the back and pass to Nepia 55 out. With a strong carry she would break through the defensive line and then skip out of the final tackle to race away to score. She would convert her own try and Waikato would lead by 21 points.

Auckland capitalised on a Waikato mistake to score their first points of the match, after Danii Mafoe was able to intercept a Waikato pass and raced away to score under the posts. Braxton Sorenson-McGee added the extras from in front and Waikato led 21-7 after 21 minutes. 

Grace Houpapa-Barrett continued her tremendous try scoring form when she dotted down from an easy pick and go, close to Auckland's lines. Nepia this time was unsuccessful with the conversion but Waikato pushed their lead out to 19 points.

Reese Anderson finished off Waikato’s fifth try of the afternoon, when she caught a pass from Rina Paraone to stroll in untouched. Nepia could not add the extras and Waikato led 31-7 after 29 minutes.

Driving maul 5 metres out led to Emma-Lee Heta scoring another try for the home team with 7 minutes remaining in the half. Nepia was unsuccessful again with the conversion but Waikato had a 36-7 lead.

The seventh Waikato try was scored by Lela Ieremia. Chelsea Semple found some space behind the Auckland defence with a kick. In the scramble to get back the Storm would knock it on and Waikato would recover the ball. Waikato would then shift the ball to the right hand side and Ieremia would go in untouched. Nepia would add the extras this time and Waikato stretched their lead to 36 points with 2 minutes remaining in the first half.

However Waikato wasn’t done with scoring as Houpapa-Barrett would score her second of the half after another pick and go close to the line. After strong runs by Hohepa and Semple, got Waikato within metres of the try line. Nepia’s conversion would take Waikato’s score to the half century mark as both teams went into the sheds with Waikato leading 50-7.

In the second half it took 11 minutes before the next lots of points would be scored. Mia Anderson would finish off her brace for the day after collecting a pop pass to dive in under the posts, after another strong run from Mahutariki-Fakalelu. Nepia added the extras from out in front and Waikato had a 50 point advantage.

The Storm would score their second and final try of the match midway through the second half, when Simina Lokotui went over in the right hand corner. Sorenson-McGee couldn’t convert from the sideline but the score was now 57-12.

Reese Anderson was next to complete her double for the day when she took the ball from the back of a driving maul, threw a dummy and fell over the line to score. Nepia was unsuccessful with the conversion but Waikato extended their lead back to 50 points with 14 to play.

Nepia would also complete her double with the final score of the afternoon. Nepia would collect the ball from her chargedown of an Auckland clearing kick, then spin through an attempted tackle and score under the posts. She would convert her own try taking her total to 24 points and Waikato’s score to 69.

Waitomo Group: Waikato Women now host Canterbury at FMG Stadium Waikato for the Farah Palmer Cup Final on Saturday 5th October, kick-off 1:05pm. This match will be free for the public with gates opening at 12.30pm.        

Waitomo Group: Waikato Women 69 (Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Mia Anderson 2, Kaea Nepia 2, Grace Houpapa-Barrett 2, Reese Anderson 2, Emma-Lee Heta, Lela Ieremia tries; Kaea Nepia 7 conversions)

Auckland Storm 12 (Danii Mafoe, Simina Lokotui tries; Braxton Sorenson-McGee 1 conversion) 

HT: 50-7

Article added: Monday 30 September 2024