Rugby: Havelock Nth women champions

PLAYER OF THE FINAL: Tamia Edwards. PHOTO/FILE

Up 17-7 at halftime, the plan was pretty simple for Havelock North women in their rugby final last night.

"It was just about doing the right thing - following the processes we've been doing for the year - that is, hold the ball, drive to the 22m mark and get some points," the villagers' coach, Tom Blake, said last night.

"The problem was that's what Clive were doing to us," a relieved Blake explained, after his women got home by the skin of their teeth, 34-31, courtesy of a last-second try at Elwood Park, Hastings.

The 2015 champions scored six tries to Clive's five but Blake had to reach for his heart pills as their 29-14 lead evaporated.

"We were quite confident [going into the second half] but Clive got their hands on the ball and played like only Clive can," he said.

Abbie Collier and Tamia Edwards scored two tries each for the Laurae Blake-captained Havelock. Felicity Powdrell and Tori Luauvao-Araia claimed a try each while Kate Bradshaw nailed two conversions.

For Clive, Sharleme Maui two, Shaylee Tipiwai, Taria Arere and Te Maari MacGregor scored tries with captain Amy Williams adding three conversions.

Blake said the crowd, packing the sidelines and dead-ball areas, were in for a treat in the nail-biter.

"It was awesome and amazing. Everyone went away quite happy and surprised with the standard of women's rugby in Hawke's Bay," he said, naming Karamu High School Year 12 student Edwards his player of the day.

"She plays No 8 but stepped in at centre because someone was away and she's not going back to No 8 now."

He hoped the victory would put some gloss back into their club after the premier men's Madison Trophy semifinal debacle.

Williams said Clive were depressed but had gone in as underdogs, which probably explained why they had had a bout of nerves in the first half.

"I think in the first 15 to 20 minutes they wanted it more," said the former Black Fern, lauding Blake's young charges satisfied the Macgregor-coached women gave the fans something to remember them by.

Kick-off pressure to induce errors worked wonders for them in piling points.