Missed kick leads to heart-wrenching loss

A missed penalty goal from in front about 22m out right on the stroke of fulltime left Eketahuna with a heart-wrenching 15-13 loss to Northern United in their grand final of the Wellington premier division women's rugby competition at Porirua on Saturday.
It was the second vital miss by the usually reliable goal kicker Rebecca Hull in the closing stages as just a few minutes earlier she had failed to convert a try by midfield back Shakira Baker, also from close range.
And it was the second time in as many seasons that Eketahuna had lost a grand final by just two points, following on from their 5-3 defeat by Linton Army in the 2008 Manawatu premier division decider.
Coach Cory Miller described Saturday's loss as "gutting" but was quick to deflect any criticism of Hull who otherwise had an excellent game.
"She might have missed a couple of important ones here but she has kicked many crucial ones through the season," he said. "We probably wouldn't even have got this far without them and it's important to remember that."
Miller was thrilled with the manner in which Eketahuna contested possession against a Northern United side who, as expected, based most of their game plan around dominating the forward exchanges.
He said unbeaten Northern United had, as expected, been proficient on the "pick and go" and rolling maul , areas in which they could utilise their bulk to best effect, but Eketahuna had still manage to win obtain their share of quality ball.
"We won enough possession to win the game, no question of that," Miller said.
The lineout, which had been such an obvious problem for Eketahuna in their narrow semi-final victory over Johnsonville, worked well this time with Andrea Taiaroa the mainstay and yet again the Eketahuna loose trio of Perri Tatana, Heather Edwards and Emma Aldworth were outstanding.
Captain Tatana scored the first of the two Eketahuna tries.
The inside combination of Laura Gavin and Rebecca Hull directed play well for Eketahuna, Maia Tua-Davidson and Shakira Baker were typically robust in midfield and fullback Jessie Bennett earned herself deserved plaudits with a try saving tackle.
Coach Miller has "no doubts whatsoever" that had the game gone into extra time Eketahuna would have taken the honours through their greater fitness.
"They (Northern United) had run out of the steam at the end, they were absolutely buggered", he said "Another few minutes and we would have cleaned them out."
Nothing illustrates better the impact made by Eketahuna in their debut season in the Wellington competition than five of their players earning selection in the Wellington NPC side, forwards Perri Tatana and Emma Aldworth and backs Rebecca Hull, Shakira Baker and Michele Clarke.
And a sixth player, Jessie Bennett, will also play in the NPC, but for Manawatu.
Coach Miller said having so many players recognised at a higher level was "hugely satisfying" for the whole of the Eketahuna camp.
"It's amazing to think that a small club like ours will have so many players competing in the country's top provincial competition, we're absolutely rapt with that."