The Eketahuna women's rugby team carved themselves a special place in Wairarapa-Bush rugby history when they scored a 12-8 win over Northern United in the grand final of the Victoria Tavern Trophy Wellington competition on Saturday.
It was the first time a club side from Wairarapa-Bush had won a major Wellington
premiership title.
Eketahuna are also the holders of the Fleur Trophy for being the leading team at the end of one complete round of matches.
Saturday's encounter was the third successive occasion Eketahuna and Norths had met in the Wellington grand final with Norths having won the previous two by narrow margins.
Eketahuna's better lead-up record in 2011 raised high hopes it would be third time lucky for the team and in arguably the most physical of all the five matches played on finals day at Memorial Park in Masterton. They deservedly grabbed the spoils.
Not that victory came easily - Pre-match thoughts that Eketahuna's pacy backs would call the tune didn't come to fruition with the tenacity of the Norths defence ensuring that Black Fern first-five Rebecca Mahoney was forced to kick for territory more often than had been anticipated.
Mahoney, who remarkably was winning her first club title after falling at the last hurdle at 10 previous attempts, had a blinder. Not only was her tactical kicking outstanding, she was responsible for the break which led to Eketahuna's crucial second try.
Loose forwards Emma Aldworth and Shaan Waru also had huge games for Eketahuna. Aldworth made some storming runs and was just as effective with her close quarter defence while Waru's ability to be "johnny on the spot" earned her both of Eketahuna tries, the second of which Mahoney converted.
There was a lot to admire too about the aggressiveness of front rowers Christine Wolland, Kelly Hunt and Sherryn Marshall , who battled bravely against the might of a Norths pack intent on using their bulk to dominate the forward exchanges, the calmness under pressure of halfback Laura Gavin and the solidness on defence of midfielders Maia Tua-Davidson and Shakira Baker.
This was Eketahuna coach Sid Tatana's swansong and he was lauded by his players after the game.
