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Reigning champions Canterbury chewed and spat at Otago to retain the JJ Stewart Trophy in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon.
Their 85-10 demolition work ensured that the female equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield, which they have had since 2017, remains at their Rugby Park headquarters.
Wing Martha Lolohea and captain Alana Bremner scored doubles, and Canterbury outscored the Blues and Golds 13 attempts to two, ensuring they have the maximum points (10) in the can after two games.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Canterbury Lock Cindy Nelles scored her team’s first try against Otago in Christchurch on Saturday.
If Otago entered the game believing he could fight for the JJ Stewart Trophy of back-to-back Farah Palmer Cup champions, his belief may not have lasted long.
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Three attempts in the first 10 minutes, including one by former Otago No. 8 Angie Sisifa, made sure of that.
Sisifta flipped through a driving mallet a few minutes after forward Amy Rule plowed over the line from close range.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Kilisitina Moata’ane of Otago is beaten up by Canterbury midfielders Grace Brooker, left, and Liv McGoverne.
Otago was nervous, but just couldn’t get into the game as his lineout was off track and his scrum was destroyed.
At one point, even after Canterbury had replaced half of their pack, they marched all over Otago, leaving five players sprawled on the grass at Orangetheory Stadium.
In other words, it was an ugly sight for Otago fans.
Canterbury had a bonus point in the bag with 17 minutes left, when Terauoriwa Gapper’s first five-eighths held on to a Kendra Cocksedge chip.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Canterbury center Terauoriwa Gapper throws a pass against Otago in Christchurch on Saturday.
Lolohea teamed with Grace Brooker and Sam Curtis to finish off a sweeping move to grab her first, before the hosts earned a try penalty after Otago illegally dragged a lineout.
If Lolohea’s first was good, the second was exceptional.
47-5 at halftime, the right wing unleashed a defense and failed five defenders as Canterbury needed just 27 seconds after play resumed to add to Otago’s misery.
The hosts had the luxury of emptying their bench early, so it came as no surprise that the game lost its shape and Canterbury was unable to maintain its scoring pace before the clock, at least temporarily.
Wing Curtis, replacement forward Lucy Anderson, Captain Alana Bremner (twice) and Georgia Ponsonby crossed for attempts, three of them in the closing minutes, to top off the result.
Wellington also produced a great victory by beating Hawke’s Bay 67-17 at Lower Hutt.
The hosts scored six unanswered tries in the second half after leading 31-17 at the break, while wingers Ayesha Leti-l’iga and Dhys Faleafaga each scored four tries.
At Inglewood, a try in added time gave hosts Taranaki Whio a dramatic 32-29 victory over North Harbor Hibiscus.
SPORT OF HEAVEN
Waikato defeats close neighbors in a close Farah Palmer Cup match.
Hooker Amy Robertshaw’s try put the visitors ahead with three minutes to play, but Hibiscus sent Zakiya Kereopa a yellow card in the 81st minute and Taranaki’s winger Chloe Sampson took advantage of the extra player to score the try winner three minutes later.
In the last game of the day, Waikato defeated the Bay of Plenty 21-10 at Rotorua International Stadium.
It was the third straight victory for Waikato, which continues to look like one of the best teams in the Farah Palmer Cup.
But they were made to work hard in a close defensive battle, with 14 minutes to go for the first points of the game.
Waikato winger Stacey Fluhler scored the first try, ending a good team attack, while Cheyelle Robins-Reti landed a pair of tries later in the first half, helping her team take a 15-3 lead. on the break.
The only attempt in the second half came from Bay of Plenty’s Mererangi Paul in the 64th minute, catching a long pass from Alena Saili.
Canterbury 85 (Cindy Nelles, Amy Rule, Angie Sisifa, Terauoriwa Gapper, Martha Lolohea 2, Grace Brooker, Sam Curtis, Lucy Anderson, Alana Bremner 2, Georgia Ponsonby attempts, penalty try; Kendra Cocksedge 6 with, Liv McGoverne 3 with) Otago 10 (Rosie Kelly, Amy du Plessis tries). HT: 47-5
Wellington 67 Hawke’s bay 17. HT: 31-17
Taranaki 32 North port 29. HT 10-5.
Waikato twenty-one Bay of Plenty 10. HT 15-3
