Waikato edged out Canterbury 27-25 in Hamilton to claim their second New Zealand provincial women’s rugby title.
The match saw an intense back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading tries in a thrilling 80 minutes.
Waikato captain Chelsea Semple was overcome with emotion at the final whistle, praising her team’s resilience in a game that tested their limits. Canterbury, despite being short 13 Black Ferns, fought valiantly, with winger Emma Whinney and skipper Laura Bayfield contributing crucial tries to keep the score tight throughout.
Waikato’s Kaea Nepia and hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett were instrumental, with Houpapa-Barrett adding to her competition-leading try tally.
Despite Canterbury’s late efforts, including a crucial penalty by Abigail Paton, a poor lineout in the dying minutes dashed their hopes of a comeback. Waikato capitalised on the error, sealing the match and cementing themselves as champions.
