• Canterbury were out of the blocks early and grabbed two tries in the opening 15 minutes
• The Storm came back towards the end of the first half and narrowed the gap to just four points at one stage
• Auckland were able to pull level in the second half, but were unable to hold-on and saw Canterbury edge out the victory

Canterbury are champions again in 2019 after a hard fought and gritty win over the Auckland Storm in Christchurch. The home side shot out to an early lead, but watched on as Auckland pulled level in the second spell and dragged themselves back into the contest. The defending champions however, were able to find that little bit extra and finish over the top of a gallant Storm team.

Canterbury were the first side to get the scoreboard ticking over. From the opening kick-off the visitors were unable to clear the lines on several occasions allowing the hosts far too many opportunities on attack. It was fullback Olivia McGoverne who subsequently found a way through to open the scoring in the fourth minute.

The red and blacks were able to extend their lead just over ten minutes later. Lucy Anderson able to break out from inside the Canterbury half before linking-up with Kendra Cocksedge who duly found a flying Grace Brooker to finish beside the uprights.

Auckland opened their account and narrowed the gap in the 22^nd minute through the boot of Patricia Malipeo after a period of sustained attack in the home side’s half.

The penalty seemed to be a bit of a catalyst for the Storm as they began to work their way into the match. Off the back of successive penalties, Auckland found their way into the Canterbury red-zone. Ruahei Demant was then on-hand a few phases later to slice her way through to score.

With a little over five minutes to play in the opening stanza, Kendra Cocksedge was able to extend her side’s advantage with a penalty of her own and see Canterbury into the sheds with a seven-point advantage.

In a reverse of the opening of the first half, it was Auckland who were out of the blocks quickly. The Storm able to work their way methodically into the Canterbury half before slick hands out wide saw Isla Norman-Bell streak over on the left edge.

Kendra Cocksedge was then able to reply with her second penalty of the afternoon just three minutes later, but this was sharply overridden by Ruahei Demant’s second try of the match just moments later.

Canterbury looked to toe the ball through the Auckland defensive line, but watched on in horror as Patricia Maliepo was able to regather the loose ball and streak away before putting a grubber through of her own to allow Ruahei Demant to dive on the ball in-goal and claim her second score of the afternoon.

The home side were able to pull themselves back in front in the 61^st minute through midfielder Lucy Anderson. Canterbury hammered away at the Auckland defensive line before a strong run from the second-five allowed her to eventually slam the ball down.

In spite of a yellow card to Canterbury with ten minutes to play, the home side were able to seal the 2019 title with two minutes to go through a superbly taken drop-goal by Kendra Cocksedge.

The Storm can now reflect on what was a fantastic season where they pushed defending champions Canterbury all the way, but were unable to get over the top of their rivals at the death.

Auckland Storm 20 (R Demant 2, I Norman-Bell tries; P Maliepo conversion; P Maliepo penalty)

Canterbury 30 (O McGoverne, G Brooker, L Anderson tries; K Cocksedge 3 conversions; K Cocksedge 2 penalties; K Cocksedge drop-goal)

Halftime: 10 - 17