Blues women beat Waratahs in trans-Tasman clash
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Blues have won back-to-back Trans-Tasman women's rugby finals, beating the New South Waratahs 24-17 in Sydney relying on som desperate defence in the closing stages to shut the Waratahs out.
The Blues won the second Women's Super Rugby Champions final - after success in the Super Rugby Aupiki final last weekend over Matatū in Christchurch..
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But it was the home side who drew first blood when a looping cut-out pass from Caitlyn Halse in the seventh minute found Wallaroos try machine Maya Stewart, who with a cheeky side-step posted the opening five points.
The Waratahs had the share of territory and possession in the opening 25 minutes, but the Blues would not be denied.
After prop Chryss Viliko crashed over the line to level the scores, teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee showed her skills slicing through the Waratahs’ left flank with a chip and chase before handing it to winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo to put the visitors seven in front.
Momentum swung hard in Auckland’s favour as they approached the break and the Waratahs were rocked onto the back foot.
Among all the heavyweights, it was fly-half Waiaria Ellis who conjured two crucial turnovers under heavy pressure to deny the visitors during a heroic feat of NSW defending.
But another sprinkle of Vaha’akolo magic broke NSW’s hearts as the Blues poached a try after the half-time siren.
After 15 minutes of searching, the second half’s hammer blow came with a try from Auckland captain Maia Roos as the Super Rugby Aupiki champions put one hand on a second straight trans-Tasman title.
Danny-Elle Fesolai was sin-binned for the Blues by playing the ball off her feet, a thunderous Waratahs maul delivering a try seconds later to breathe new life into the contest.
Multiple chances deep in the Blues’ half, including an intercept from vice-captain Kaitlan Leaney kept the Waratahs in the game, but it was still not enough to turn the result