Chiefs Manawa ended their 2025 campaign with a slender victory over southern finalists Matatū.
Two tries in the first ten minutes of the second half proved telling in Manawa’s 28-22 success at Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch.
A close and open first spell was blown open after the interval when rampant prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and athletic loose forward Grace Kukutai scored quick tries.
Mahutariki-Fakalelu has been the most destructive ball carrying prop in the competition while Kukutai has played professional netball for the Northern Mystics and rugby league for the Newcastle Knights. Following a stint in sevens in Japan she has played ten matches for Chiefs Manawa and scored two tries.
The scoreline suddenly ballooning from 14-10 to 28-10 but didn't take the sting out of the contest. Instead, Matatū rallied and were heartened by the impact of youngsters Sarah Jones and Hollyrae Mete from their bench.
Furthermore, Matatū are arguably the fittest team in Aupiki and will have to summon all their reserves to topple the Blues in the final next Saturday.
Once again, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Alana Bremner were outstanding. Amy Du Plessis threatened in the midfield and the growth of the Maia Joseph-Hannah King partnership continued.
Chiefs Manawa will reflect upon 2025 with frustration. A poor second half cost them victory in the first Matatū meeting, while the Blues' loss at Eden Park was a genuine heartbreaker as Manawa only trailed for the last two minutes.
Black Ferns Ruby Tui, Mererangi Paul, and Kennedy Tukuafu were superb throughout. Mia Anderson and Mahutariki-Fakalelu have bright futures.
Chiefs Manawa: 28 (Mia Anderson, Ruby Tui, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Grace Kukutai tries; Renee Holmes 4 cons) Matatū: 22 (Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Winnie Palamo, Hollyrae Mete tries; Hannah King con, pen, Kaea Nepia con) HT: 14-10
With their hosting rights for the final guaranteed, the Blues left some big names like Portia-Woodman-Wickliffe and Patricia Maliepo on the bench. Both Black Ferns would enter the second-half fray and add significant punch, with Maliepo scoring a crash-over try in the 70th minute when the score was 35-26.
It was an entertaining spectacle where the Poua showed grit and growth, but the hosts always looked like they could soar to another level.
Blues flanker Taufa Bason was electric again, opening the scoring after four minutes with a stunner from halfway. Following a defiant strike back by Ngano Tavake, back from a spell in Japan, another superb Bason burst sent Jaymie Kolose streaking away.
Former Black Ferns hooker Forne Burkin marked her Poua debut with a short range pick and go try only for opposite Atlanta Lolohea to respond from a driving maul.
There were contrasting milestones for Eloise Blackwell and Danii Mafoe in the second half. Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern Blackwell celebrated her 20th Aupiki match for the Blues. Mafoe, only recently departed from Mount Albert Grammar School, marked her debut with a try.
The Poua have lost ten consecutive matches but have positives to build on for 2026. Halfback Iritana Hohaia played with a breathtaking pulse at times, and her energy was matched by loose forwards Elinor-Plum King and Layla Sae, who both rank inside the Aupiki top ten for most tackles. Ayesha Leti-I’iga was devastating when involved, but often lacked support, though Cassie Siataga and Te Rauoriwa Gapper had some moments of quality.
Jackie Patea-Fereti had the honour of leading the Poua onto the field in her last first-class game. The 38-year-old was capped 18 times by the Black Ferns between 2012 and 2019 and holds the record for most games for Wellington with 85. A foundation player with Poua in 2022, she made her first-class debut in 2006 as a teenager. That season, the Pride won their only Farah Palmer Cup Premiership.
Blues: 49 (Taufa Bason, Jaymie Kolose, Atlanta Lolohea, Ruahei Demant, Danii Mafoe, Patricia Maliepo, Maama Vaipulu tries; Krysten Cottrell 7 cons) Hurricanes Poua: 26 (Ngano Tavake, Forne Burkin, Layla Sae, Te Rauoriwa Gapper tries; Cassie Siataga 3 cons) HT: 21-14
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Grand Final: Blues v Matatū, Saturday 12 April, 7.05pm, Eden Park. Watch LIVE on Sky Sport NZ.