Wellington Pride finish season with bonus point win

Representative Rugby | 18 October 2014 | Steven White

Above: Wellington Pride prop Muteremoana Aiatu celebrating scoring her try in the Women's NPC over Hawke's Bay.?

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It wasn't sparkling rugby but it was the result that mattered for the Wellington Pride, finishing their 2014 Women’s NPC season with a bonus point 36-10 win over the Hawke’s Bay Tuis today at Porirua Park.?

A try each to props Mueremoana Aiatu and Janet Taumoli, one to left wing Timena Tuma’ai and a brace to second five-eighth Georgia Daals saw the Pride pull clear in the second half to win their second match of the season and see them finish the Women’s NPC in seventh of the nine teams, ahead of the Tuis and the Bay of Plenty Volcanix.

A largely scrappy match was dominated by referee Brigitte Tyler’s whistle at the breakdowns and at the offside line.?

The Pride shook off a lethargic start to outscore the Tuis two tries to one in the first half and led 12-10 at the break.?

Making a spate of unforced errors, the Pride handed the Tuis possession almost at will over the first 20 minutes and the visitors obliged by racing to a 10-0 lead.?

The Pride’s jittery start and early Hawke’s Bay pressure paid off for the visitors, lock Ditte van Vliet crashing over to give them a 7-0 lead.

The Pride conceded a turnover at a ruck on their own side of halfway, leading to a Tuis penalty for first five-eighth Sylvia Bockman to convert for a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Finally, the Pride started to get their hands on the ball and create phases. Ironically, after at least three unforced lineout errors of their own, it was a lineout steal that almost led to their first try. ?After a series of pick and goes in the opposite corner, blindside flanker Sammy McIntosh crossed the whitewash but was held up.

Their endeavour soon paid off when Sammy’s sister, fullback Jamie, ran in left wing Tuma’ai for a try to cut the deficit to 10-5 after half an hour.

The Pride could have been in again on several occasions in the lead-up to halftime. Once when Hawke’s Bay dropped the ball cold in midfield and Pride centre Fa’asua Makisi pounced, only for the Tui defenders to swoop on right wing Jessica Akavi. Prop Aiatu knocked the ball over the try line going for a try and then Hawke’s Bay blindside flanker Nuia Momoisea rushed up out the line in front of her posts with the Pride about to score and was yellow carded.?

Finally, the Pride scored their second try, Aiatu showing good determination to drive over the chalk. First five-eighth Elizabeth Goulden converted and the Pride went into halftime leading 12-10.?

The Pride made early in-roads after halftime and Goulden kicking a 55th minute penalty after an earlier miss, to see the Pride extend their lead to 15-10.

A long, patient build-up inside Tuis territory paid dividends when Aiatu’s replacement, Janet Taumoli, barged over from close range. Goulden added the extras and the Pride now led 22-10 early in the fourth quarter.

Wellington recovered a kick and chase, in the build-up to their fourth and bonus point try, scored by second five-eighth Georgia Daals after a weaving run. This was converted from out wide by Goulden.?

The Tuis rallied and the Pride held off a concerted assault at their line, before turning defence into attack with a few minutes remaining and the flying Daals running through to score her second try.?

Wellington Pride 36 (Timena Tuma’ai, Mueremoana Aiatu, Janet Taumoli, Georgia Daals 2 ties; Elizabeth Goulden pen, 4 con, pen) beat the Hawke’s Bay Tuis 10 (Ditte van Vliet try; Sylvia Bockman pen, con). HT: Pride 12-10