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The balance of power in the Farah Palmer Cup rests with Canterbury after beating the Auckland Storm 36-21 in Saturday’s semi-final, but the three-time reigning champions were seriously tested at Rugby Park in Christchurch.
Canterbury broke through the southern group and finished on top with 331 points from five emphatic victories, but the Storm was a much greater challenge.
In a replay of the 2019 final, Canterbury won 30-20 for a third straight title, Liv McGoverne’s second hat-trick, five eighths, secured Canterbury’s place in the decider for the fourth year in a row.
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Canterbury running back Kendra Cocksedge was a live wire for the defending champs.
Auckland’s wait for a first title since 2015, after winning 15 of 16 since the provincial women’s national championship began in 1999, continues, but they threw it all into a Canterbury side inspired by Black Ferns running back Kendra Cocksedge.
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Cocksedge’s speed around the ruck surprised Auckland napping at key moments. Their experience and class led the Red and Black in a nervous victory that was only certain once Lock Cindy Nelles marched through the Storm defense for her sixth attempt with 11 minutes to go.
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Liv McGoverne scored a hat-trick for Canterbury.
Auckland, after losing to Waikato 26-17 last weekend, were lucky enough to advance to the semi-finals as they were tied with Northland and Counties Manukau on 21 points, but progressed to runners-up in the northern group thanks to tiebreaker rules of the competition.
Still, Auckland had Canterbury on the defensive for long stretches, but the three-time champions scored crucially with three attempts in seven minutes on either side of halftime and went to the sheds with a nine-point lead.
Canterbury was being exposed wide and the Storm were moving forward with much more ball, but mistakes cost them dearly. Another resumption of the second half led to the home team’s fourth attempt as Grace Brooker crossed the Auckland line for McGoverne’s second.
Auckland, with Black Ferns Eloise Blackwell and Charmaine McMenamin laying waste to the Canterbury forwards, were always physically competing and still in competition.
However, McGoverne’s treble in the 49th minute was a crushing blow, and as the Storm fought to the death, they will regret not having a ruthless streak like Canterbury.
Canterbury took their chances and Auckland didn’t, squandering two more golden opportunities when trailing 24-8, but they responded through attempts by Theresa Fitzpatrick and Saphire Abraham in the second half.
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Theresa Fitzpatrick offloads for Auckland.
Playmakers Patricia Maliepo and Ruahei Demant were always a threat to Auckland, but too many attempts were pleading and their play was more terrifying once Canterbury broke free.
Auckland’s defense was hanging from the early gates and Canterbury broke through as Cocksedge took a quick bunt, unloading McGoverne, who scored under the posts for the opener.
Both sides looked nervous in the heat of a semi-final, but were willing to risk their arm and Auckland, as the underdog, put Canterbury under immense pressure.
Princess Elliot’s try after a wonderful surge down the left wing saw the Storm take the lead after Maliepo’s previous penalty goal.
Penalties were suffocating Canterbury and Auckland grew in confidence with their shots, but only eight points after such dominance against the champions was never enough.
As soon as Canterbury entered the Auckland half, Cocksedge drove his side forward again and a clever kick forced Elliot to concede a five-meter scrum, Canterbury’s forwards had too much force and Captain Alana Bremner crashed.
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Auckland celebrates Princess Elliot’s first attempt.
Canterbury really punished Auckland with their third attempt at halftime after the visitors failed to kick the ball dead, which would have ended the first half, and Sam Curtis crossed into the corner after a patient attack.
The Storm kept coming in the second half, but Canterbury will face Waikato or Cyclones Manawatū in the final next weekend.
Take a look
Canterbury 36 (Liv McGoverne 3, Alana Bremner, Sam Curtis, Cindy Nelles Attempts; Kendra Cocksedge 3 with) Auckland 21 (Princess Elliot, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Saphire Abraham tries; Patricia Maliepo 2 pen). HT: 17-8
