Page 12 - Grassroots Edition 8 - September - 2015
P. 12
REWA ROMP TO TITLE
The Manurewa Marlins produced the upset of the While the first period had been evenly contested the second
season to demolish the Papakura Sea Eagles 46-24 was all about the Manurewa ladies, as a double to Kiwi
and win the 2015 Women's Premiership final. Ferns international Sarina Fiso, and a third for Kani, blew
the lead out to 36-12 with 20 minutes remaining.
The game, played on Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium
#2, was dominated right from the get go by the Further tries to back-rowers Louisa Gago and Kelly Maipi,
Marlins. plus a pair of conversions to halfback Aroha Hapuku made
it 46-18.
Most impressive was the way they broke down the
previously stubborn Papakura defence, which in 18 A consolation four-pointer to Cherie Wihape made the
regular season games had leaked just 34 points. scoreboard a little more bearable for the Papakura faithful,
but ultimately Manurewa were far too good, winning the
Centre Amber Kani had a double inside the first 12 Women's Premiership final 46-24.
minutes to give Manurewa an 8-0 lead.
After the match Fiso said her side had gone into the game
Lock Nora Maaka's effort a short time later, followed confident despite trailing Papakura all year, while also
by a Kimiora Nati conversion, took Manurewa out to paying tribute to hat-trick hero Kani.
a 20-0 lead.
"You have always got to go in with a little bit of
But if Papakura were worried they weren’t showing confidence, otherwise you will probably come out second
it, promptly replying with tries from Laura Mariu best," she said.
and Rona Peters, both of which were converted by
Mariu, to leave the score at 20-12 heading into the "For us it was just about playing for the 80 minutes.”
sheds.
Manurewa 46 (Amber Kani x3, Nora Maaka, Louisa Gago
A third for Kani, blew the lead out to 36-12 with 20 x2, Sarina Fiso x2, Kelly Maipi tries; Kimiora Nati 2 goals,
minutes remaining. Te Aroha Hapuku 3 goals) BEAT Papakura 24 (Laura
Mariu, Rona Peters, Billy-Jean Ale, Cherie Wihape tries;
Laura Mariu 4 goals). HT: 20-12. At Mt Smart Stadium #2.
