The Howick Hornets Premier Women (‘Nets) have been crowned women’s premiership champions to mark the end of the Auckland Rugby League (ARL) season.
It was a massive build-up to the weekend, being the first time that the ‘Nets had ever made a grand final.
The ‘Nets got off to a rocky start however after Mount Albert crossed the line first in the 11th minute and converted to take a 6-0 lead.
From there onwards it was all the ‘Nets story, keeping its opposition scoreless the rest of the match and running in seven tries.
‘Nets hooker Zayde Sarah-Baldwin and winger Taylor Curtis were instrumental in the women’s big win, each scoring a brace of tries.
Jonsal Tautari and captain Shontelle Woodman each scored a try before Lisa Edwards Rua put the nail in the coffin with another four-pointer.
The icing on the ‘Nets cake was playmaker Platinum Marsters converting four of the seven tries to finish 36-6.
To top off her outstanding season, in which she played every minute of every game, Sarah-Baldwin was named player of the match for the grand final.
The women raised the newly-named Steele-Shanks Cup in front of a packed-out Hornets crowned at Mt Smart Stadium.
The ‘Nets victory tops off an exceptional year for women at the Howick Hornets Rugby League Football Club, with the U18 girls also winning its grand final three weeks ago.
2023 ARL awards/representative honours
Six Hornets players were honoured at the recent ARL awards night for their efforts during the 2023 season.
The Hornets’ award winners were:
- Cassie Ormsby (Women’s Premiership Team of the Year)
- Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono (Women’s Premiership Team of the Year)
- Mele Fotu-Moala (Howick Hornets Premier Women Player of the Year)
- Jethro Friend (Howick Hornets Premier Men Player of the Year, Fox Memorial Team of the Year)
- Joshua Cooper (Fox Memorial Team of the Year)
- Manu Fatialofa (Fox Memorial Team of the Year)
Ten ‘Nets players have also been selected to represent the Auckland Vulcans in the Women’s NZRL Premiership side.
They are;
- Barbra Auva’a
- Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono
- Jonsal Tautari
- Lisa Edwards Rua
- Mele Fotu-Moala
- Platinum Marsters
- Saphire Abraham
- Shontelle Woodman
- Wendy Savieti
- Zayde Sarah-Baldwin
The competition, which gets underway on September 2, features provincial teams from Auckland, Canterbury, Counties Manukau, Wellington and the mid-central North Island.
All games will be broadcast live on Sky Sport with the final on October 1.
Auckland Rugby League Finals Results
Women’s Premiership
Howick Hornets vs Mount Albert Lionesses
HT: Howick 22 – Mount Albert 6
FT: Howick 36 – Mount Albert 6
Tries: Zayde Sarah-Baldwin (2), Jonsal Tautari, Taylor Curtis (2), Shontelle Woodman, Lisa Edwards Rua.
Conversion(s): Platinum Marsters (4).
Fox Memorial Premiers
Premiership final (1st place playoff): Richmond Rovers 16 – Point Chevalier Pirates 24
Plate Final (7th place playoff): Te Atatu Roosters 16 – Mount Albert Lions 22
Fox Memorial Premier Reserves
Final: Point Chevalier Pirates 22 – Otahuhu Leopards 26
