Women’s final evenly balanced

Friday, 27 June 2025

Waimea players celebrate their last minute victory against Marist in May. Waimea take on Kahurangi in the final on Saturday.

The wet weather is expected to make the Stuff Tasman Trophy women’s final even more of a level playing field.

Kahurangi host Waimea at Cooks Reserve in Riwaka on Saturday to etch a different name on the trophy after Marist’s three successive victories.

Waimea recorded an impressive 66-10 semifinal win over Marist last weekend, and will be looking to carry their momentum into the final against a team they matched but failed to beat in the two round-robin games.

On June 14, Kahurangi won 22-20 in Riwaka after a see-sawing contest, and in May at Jubilee Park, Kahurangi came back to win 36-25 after trailing late in the second half.

Tanita Garnett will lead Kahurangi against Waimea in the Stuff Tasman Trophy final on Saturday.

Kahurangi coach Jason Richards expected a tight contest, particularly as the forecast heavy rain is likely to create difficult conditions with a soggy field and slippery ball.

He said his team favoured the running game, but had been training hard in the wet.

“We are ready, the girls are keen as. They know it’s right there and they know they can do it, we just have to keep our heads in it.

“It’s going to be wet and muddy and it could go either way.”

Lock and captain Tanita Garnett had led well up front with fellow lock Carlee Prince also having a strong season, and the standouts in the backs had been centre Eve Findlay and halfback Tayla Richards.

Waimea forwards coach Marc Hunter said his team would be unworried about adapting to wet conditions, led by a physical forward pack.

The two narrow losses to Kahurangi showed they could compete. “We’ve had good starts and then tended to allow Kahurangi to play their game and come back at the end.

“It’s looking like an exciting game because we have been really close even though we are different kinds of teams.”

Versatile back Bethan Manners, who can play fullback or No 10, had made an impressive comeback from a knee injury, and No 12 Samara Bright had also stood out. The forwards were led by captain and prop Stephani Mitchell with No 8 Brooklyn Logan “sort of a raging bull” in the pack.

The match kicks off at 1.15pm.