Spirit Triumph Over Harbour to Secure Final Spot Against Northland

The Otago Spirit secured their place in the final of the Farah Palmer Cup by defeating North Harbour 31-22 in a closely contested semifinal match held in Whangarei. This victory sets up a home final against Northland, who triumphed over Wellington with a score of 29-24 in the other semifinal.

The Spirit showcased an aggressive style of rugby throughout the season, and this match was no exception. Midfield pairing Naomi Sopoaga and Charlotte Va’afusuaga proved instrumental, evading numerous tackles and creating significant opportunities for their team. Captain Greer Muir led from the front, while Sarah Jones delivered another outstanding performance on the side of the scrum. The props, Isla Pringle and Eilis Doyle, also contributed significantly, battling hard against their opponents.

Despite the win, there are areas for improvement, particularly regarding discipline. The Spirit received three yellow cards during the match, raising concerns about their composure as the game progressed. Assistant coach Marty Hurring expressed his excitement about reaching the final but acknowledged the need for better control. “Obviously, that was the aim at the start of the season and we’ve achieved that,” he stated. “It’s a great result for the Spirit. But credit to Harbour who stayed in there and has got some positive wins this season.”

Hurring also noted disappointment over the number of cards issued, with four shown in total, three of which went to Otago. The refereeing has been strict on high tackles throughout the season, and Hurring emphasized that the Spirit must adapt their tackling technique. He mentioned that their performance waned towards the end, stating, “We lost our structure and we probably lost our mentality a wee bit.”

Another concern for Otago is the injury to key lock Leila Hill, who left the field with a shoulder injury during the first half. Hurring indicated that her chances of recovering in time for the final next weekend appear slim. “She is a massive loss for us. She’s got the most tackles in the FPC,” he remarked. Hill is also a critical lineout target and brings stability to a scrum that faced pressure against Harbour.

The match began with Otago applying significant pressure. Jones made an early line break, and although Doyle was held up just short of the line, the Spirit’s relentless attack paid off. Muir and Pringle drove forward, allowing makeshift first five Abigail Paton to score the first try. Jones followed soon after, muscling through defenders to extend the lead.

However, discipline issues soon plagued Otago. Rikki Fitzgerald, who replaced Hill, received a yellow card for deliberately slapping the ball down, and Sopoaga was penalized for a dangerous tackle shortly after. This forced the Spirit to defend with only 13 players for the final minutes of the half, allowing Harbour to score through Manutala’aho Huni-Po’ese as they entered halftime trailing 14-7.

The second half began with Harbour’s lock Lottie Collis receiving a yellow card for a high tackle, giving Otago a numerical advantage. They capitalized on this opportunity, with winger Jamie Church scoring a try in the corner. The Spirit then further extended their lead with tries from Sopoaga and Muir.

Despite the Spirit’s strong performance, Harbour continued to challenge, with tries from playmakers Ellie Harrison and Ella Henderson keeping the scoreline close. The final score read Otago 31, North Harbour 22, with Jones contributing two conversions and a try.

As the Spirit prepares for the final against Northland, the focus will be on addressing their disciplinary issues and ensuring the fitness of key players, particularly Hill. The upcoming match promises to be an exciting culmination of the season, with the Spirit eager to claim the title on home turf.