Hurricanes Poua beat Matatū in one-point thriller for first victory of Super Rugby Aupiki

At Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch: Hurricanes Poua 25 (Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly 2, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Joanah Ngan-Woo tries; Isabella Waterman pen, Carys Dallinger con) Matatū 24 (Renee Holmes 2, Kendra Reynolds, Grace Brooker tries; Holmes 2 con). HT: 8-19.

The Hurricanes Poua fought back and held on for their first win of Super Rugby Aupiki after winning 25-24 in a thriller against Matatū in Christchurch on Saturday.

Matatū had opened their campaign with a win last week against the Blues in Dunedin but fell to their first defeat in a dramatic contest.

Trailing by a point, the hosts had a penalty goal about 30 metres out to take the lead in the final minutes but opted to kick for the corner instead.

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The home crowd thought replacement hooker Natalie Delamere had won the match when she rushed over the line, but the Hurricanes held her up and survived Matatu’s last attack in a frantic final play.

Black Fern Renee Holmes was brilliant at fullback for Matatū and Hurricanes first five-eighth Carys Dallinger had an excellent game, steering her team around the park, with Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali also shining at second-five for the Poua.

The two backs were tough in defence, too, to complement their attacking qualities in the second-round match that was on a knife-edge.

Matatū dominated the first half and were in the ascendancy for long spells but trailed on the hour after the Hurricanes hit back with tries to league convert Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly and Joanah Ngan-Woo, with Dallinger’s first successful conversion nudging them 20-19 ahead.

Stephens-Daly, after scoring her first for the Hurricanes, soon had two after excellent handling from Black Ferns prop Krystal Murray in the build-up and there was still only six points between the sides for the final 15 minutes.

Holmes’ second try in the 70th minute – and her missed conversion – ensured it was a one-point ball game in a grandstand finish.

The Poua appeared to struggling with their set piece, as they did in last week’s 53-21 defeat to the Chiefs, and they looked in trouble again when loose forward Kendra Reynolds scored Matatū’s opening try after spinning off the back of a lineout drive.

Matatū were building momentum and controlled the territory game for much of the first half, but the Hurricanes’ scrum improved and even managed to turn the tables against the home side’s strong pack.

Star winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga was energetic down the left flank and finished off their first attack when the visitors kept the ball alive superbly following Dallinger’s intercept.

It was against the run of play but lifted the Poua’s confidence – they nearly led at half-time with Isabella Waterman’s penalty goal – although it was shattered by two Matatū tries on the stroke of half-time.

Holmes, who looked sharp and impressive in linking their attack, combined with Lucy Jenkins to finish an excellent try for the hosts, retaking the lead.

They weren’t finished yet because a sweeping move with the last play of the half gave them an 11-point lead when Grace Brooker scored under the posts from a lineout ploy.

The big moment

Matatū had the ball where they wanted in the final seconds to snatch victory and were driving through the Poua’s forwards, but their defence stood up when it mattered most to clinch their first win of the season with grit and determination.

MVP

Holmes is quickly becoming one of the country’s leading outside backs, when so many are talented wingers, but there is no doubt that she is the top fullback after playing a key role while establishing herself in the Black Ferns’ starting XV in last year’s Rugby World Cup win.

Match rating: 8/10

It was tense from the opening minutes and the Hurricanes fought back to make it an excellent contest after Matatū looked to have control.

The big picture

After two matches in the South Island, Matatū head north to face the Chiefs Manawa in the third round in Hamilton next Saturday.

The Hurricanes host the Blues in Wellington in their first home match next Saturday.