Meanwhile, Auckland surged past Counties Manukau to claim the fourth and final spot in the Premiership semi-finals. Next Saturday, the Storm will travel to Hamilton to face defending champions Waikato, while Canterbury will host Manawatū in Palmerston North.
Otago Spirit: 37 (Hannah Norris 2, Greer Muir, Olivia Fowler, Charlotte Va'afusuaga, Sarah Jones tries; Sheree Hume pen, con; Georgia Cormack con) Northland Kauri:12 (Tyler Nankivell, Lily Murray-Wihongi tries; Krystal Murray con). HT: 25-0.
The Otago Spirit were well-deserved Championship final winners in front of a lively home crowd at Tāhuna Park, to complete an unbeaten season and earn their place in the FPC Premiership next year.
The Spirit won courtesy of their positive, ball in hand style of play, which simply stretched and overwhelmed Northland at times as they built a big lead by halftime. Otago’s defence at key moments on their line was also telling – holding the Northlanders up over the chalk on no fewer than three occasions in total.
Playing into the wind, the Spirit made an all-action start. Thrusts close to the line by openside Sarah Jones and captain and No. 8 Greer Muir set up space out wide for first five Sheree Hume to hold up the defence just long enough to fire out a pass to right wing Hannah Norris to score the first try.
Otago went close again over the next 15 minutes, the closest being Naomi Sopoaga running on to a short ball after another dart by Greer but held up.
Northland kept holding Otago out, so next time Otago opted for the kick and three points when awarded a penalty and they went up 8-0 after 25 minutes.
Both teams were keen to keep the ball alive, leading to several back-and-forth turnovers. Otago maintained this style of play and when Muir herself carried on the attack from a ruck and scored after lock Isla Pringle had been brought down just short, Otago went up 13-0.
Five minutes before halftime Northland moved the ball wide from a scrum 60 metres out from their line, but the skip-out pass from centre Arlia MacCarthy went horribly wrong and Otago right wing Norris picked up the bouncing ball and sprinted clear to score their third try.
There was no reprieve for the visitors, just before halftime Otago attacked up the middle through Muir and prop Isla Pringle, then stretched Northland’s defence on both sides of the field and fullback Olivia Fowler came up with their fourth try.
Now with the wind and needing to throw caution to it, Northland came out hard early in the second half, this time asking Otago to defend their try zone.
Blindside flanker Terai Elia looked like scoring but knocked over in the tackle over the line – an error that summed up their day with mistakes proving extremely costly for them.
Finally in the 58th minute, Northland posted their first points. This try was from a lineout just outside the 22, which was tipped down quickly and the backs went wide and right wing Tyler Nankivell came up with the try on the left edge of play.
There was little time for celebrating for the Kauri, with the Spirit making the most of their next chance inside the 22.
Another run close to the line by flanker Jones fell short, but more swift recycling saw centre Charlotte Va'afusuaga crash over in the far-left corner. Now at 30-5 with 15 minutes to play, Otago could start celebrating.
Otago’s supporters really found their voice when blindside Ella Gomez intercepted a Northland pass in general play in centre field and galloped almost all the way. She was brought down in a good tackle, but more recycling and support play led to openside Jones scoring the match sealer.
Northland kept attacking and lock Lily Murray-Wihongi was in support on the far side to thread her way through traffic and storm clear to score a well-deserved consolation try.
Championship Winners:
2017: Bay of Plenty
2018: Wellington
2019: Otago
2021: Manawatū
2022: Hawke’s Bay
2023: Northland
2024: Manawatū
2025: Otago
Auckland Storm: 57 (Danny-Elle Fesolai 2,Glory Aiono Samuelu 2, Cilia-Marie Po’e Tofaeono, Amarante Sititi, Gillian Fa'aumu, Dajian Brown, Taufa Bason tries; Emacyn Ieremia 3 con; Aleiyah Tuala 3 con) Counties Manukau Heat: 12 (Mele Latu'ila. Fou Sefo tries; Paris Mataroa con) HT: 12-0.
The Auckland Storm made sure of their Premiership semi-final place next weekend with their nine tries to two win over the Counties Manukau Heat at Pukekohe.
Needing at least two points from this fixture to advance, the Storm lived up to their nickname by blowing to victory with a seven-try second half burst to establish a meeting with Waikato next weekend.
It wasn’t until the 25th minute, however, that the first points were scored, Auckland consistently attacking but desperate Counties Manukau defence keeping them out across both sides of the field up that point. Finally, hooker Cristo Taufua delivered a short pass to prop Cilia-Marie Po’e Tofaeono for the first try.
Auckland poured straight up field from the re-start, second five Hollyrae Mete-Renata – a product of champion girls’ school Manukura – slicing through in broken play, leading to No. 8 Amarante Sititi scoring their second try. There was no further scoring in the first half.
The home side made the perfect start to the second half with pacey fullback Sariyah Paitai also showing a deft touch in offloading on her outside to replacement wing Mele Latu'ila who ran through to score their first try.
Auckland then laid on three tries in the 49th, 55th and 61st minutes, all the result of their relentless attack and continuity with ball in hand.
Counties Manukau interrupted their scoring with their second try to flanker Fou Sefo, but Auckland finished with a flourish over the final dozen minutes, starting with the match-winner to openside flanker Taufa Bason off a turnover inside the 22 and then three more, including a late double to replacement hooker Danny-Elle Fesolai.
Canterbury: 46 (Lialanie Muamua 2, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg 2, Nicole Purdom, Louise Blyde 2, Poppy Baxter 2 cons, Muamua con) Bay of Plenty Volcanix: 12 (Jessie Wharekura, Tynealle Fitzgerald tries; Hope Parata-Kingi con). HT: 20+0\
Canterbury quickly settled the contest, scoring three tries within the first eight minutes and securing a bonus point for four tries by halftime. They displayed clinical execution in set pieces and showcased impressive speed, with wingers Lialanie Muamua and Louise Blyde contributing to half of the team's tries.
Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, playing against her former province, added two tries to her tally. Her versatility, being able to cover lock and three loose forward positions, makes her a compelling talent.
Bay of Plenty showed commendable resilience in the second half. A determined forward effort was led by former Black Ferns hooker Luka Connor. Try scorer Jessie Wharekura serves as the captain of the Ngongotaha seniors. Flanker Tynealle Fitzgerald was outstanding, making 17 tackles and several determined charges. Fitzgerald had previously won a gold medal in Sevens at the 2018 Junior Olympics in Buenos Aires.
Waikato: 60 (Keelah Bodle 2, Lela Ieremia 3, Chyann Kaitapu, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a 3, Montessa Tairakena, Nyesha Hamilton 5 cons) Hawke’s Bay Tui: 17 (Amber McKenzine, Denise Aiolupotea, Olioli Mua tries; Cassie Siataga con). HT: 24-17
Hawke’s Bay produced their best performance of the season, scoring three tries to take a shock 17-14 lead over Waikato after 30 minutes. Waikato rested several key players, which initially caused them to take some time to find their rhythm.
Once they did, however, Hawke’s Bay struggled to maintain their early momentum despite notable contributions from hooker Amber McKenzie, a product of the Napier Technical Sports Club who has also competed in boxing; No. 8 Patrice Mareikura, who charged 50 metres and made six tackles; and former Tasman ten Cassie Siataga.
For Waikato, Rina Paraone, playing in her 50th game (with 34 wins and 7 tries), was the driving force behind much of their best attack.
Winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a, a graduate of Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Hamilton and a member of the New Zealand Under 18 Sevens program, was a standout. The oldest of four siblings from Samoa is a recipient of an Adastra Foundation Scholarship, which has “provided financial and mentoring support to exceptional young New Zealanders pursuing excellence since 2007.” Notable recipients of this scholarship include former Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winner Chelsea Semple and Olympic medalists David Nyika (boxing) and Dylan Schmidt (trampoline).
Lela Ieremia has scored 15 tries and enjoyed 17 wins in 21 games for Waikato.