The Counties Manukau Stingrays Women’s premiership team are your Champions once again, but with the men’s having to settle for second as Akarana are victorious again.

Earlier on in the day, the Women’s teams started off the grand final battle fiercely, with both teams looking strong on attack early. But as Auckland turned it on with the rain, wet weather footy seemed to suit the Stingrays more.

Akarana making multiple handling areas which they eventually paid for as powerhouse Kararaina Wira-Kohu crashed over beside the right post to give the Stingrays the lead.

Up six nil, the defending champs rolled the dice once more with a backline play finding the illusive Kere Matua who powered herself over to score their second.

Later in the half Matua got another try which was quite identical to her first to give the Stingrays a 14-0 lead at half time.

The champs came out in the second half and picked up where they left off in the first half with Aiesha Smalley putting her foot down and busting through a staggered Akarana defensive line.

Then some absolute magic from halfback Jonsal Tautari setting up two trys off pinpoint accurate kicks, one of them for Matua as she bags three and one for winger Alexis Thompson.

Thompson gets a double later in the game with a brilliant team try.

Akarana finished in style with scoring a try of their own as winger Sharliz White dives over after a brilliant set move.

Captain Krystal Rota was proud of the efforts of her team and starred in their big victory.

Rota says the rain forced her team to change their style of play to suit the conditions.

“It changed the whole dynamic of the game.”

Rota has been a big part of Women’s rugby league in New Zealand and now she prepares to head into Kiwis camp to take on Samoa.

Full time score 34-4 Stingrays.

Later on the mens went head to head with eager as last time these sides meet it was a 12 all draw.

Akarana started hot with lock (Riki) scoring a superb try and minutes later the creative Akarana hooker put in a mid-field grubber which Riki came up trumps again in the contest to get his second under the post.

The Stingrays had an opposite start as their captain Jethro Friend came off with a shoulder injury and didn’t return for the game.

Akarana scored another three trys, as Counties scored a try through a barn storming run from Richard Holani. Half time score 30-6.

Akarana carrying their strong start into the second half as they score the first two trys of the second period.

Stingrays Managed to capitalize on an error from Akarana with fill in dummy half Penehuro Toai barging his way over and getting his sides second try.

Counties managed to get another try through hard man Atanasio Kuea as he broke the Akarana defensive line with brute strength.

But after that the flood gates opened and Akarana came in hot and finished it off in style with scoring another five trys as their left side put on an attacking clinic.

Stingrays Captain Jethro Friend was disappointed as he couldn’t be on the field with his team mates and was forced to watch on.

He says preparations were good during the week but today Akarana were just simply better on the day.

“I think they started really well… and in these big games you can’t afford to start slow.”

Friend was proud of the ‘youth’ in his team and feels these big games will be a good learning curve for the players.

Full time score 64-18 Akarana.

Article added: Monday 02 November 2020