A losing finalist the past two years and despite illness and injury forcing no fewer than 10 team changes, Pirates rallied over the final five minutes to counter a spirited University fight-back, and win the Otago Metropolitan banner 27-19, to complete an unbeaten season.
Superbly captained by Otago Spirit squad member Ainslie Johnston from first five-eighth, the side overcame a University side showing a willingness to run at every opportunity and an early try to its captain, Sam Stewart.
Pirates was quick to regroup and began to dominate through its forward pack, Johnston directing play with her kicks over the top into the corners.
The Pirates pack also took early advantage of a struggling University lineout, with Kylie Cathro, Amanda Mulock and Lauren Roney featuring.
Pirates opened its account when Greer Muir made a telling break, splitting the University defence, before left wing Jamie Greene fended off two tackles and scored, putting the teams back on even terms.
With the Pirates pack in full control, Courtney Sullivan and Gemma Tuhega proved a handful for the University defence when running the ball up from broken play, and Angie Sisifa was effective from the back of the scrum. Pirates was rewarded when blindside flanker Roney scored either side of halftime to give the side a handy 22-7 lead, which proved the winning of the game.
With changes to the forward pack in the second half, University began to spend long periods camped inside the Pirates half.
Despite a committed Pirates defence tries to outside backs Jenna Aikman and Chloe Trubshoe put University back in the game and Pirates led 22-19 with just minutes to play.
It was a tense and extremely competitive final few minutes and exchanges were heated. But as the clock wound down, the Pirates pack found a second wind and launched wave after wave at the University line until Tuhega launched herself at the line to score and bring the curtain down on what was a game full of desire, commitment and passion between two very good sides.
Both captains were full praise for their opponents at the end.
"Varsity always bring a very physical game and they hit us right from the start and didn't give up to the very last minute," Pirates captain Ainslie Johnston said.
"We just had to stick together basically, and that's what we've had to do all season. We've had to rely on the whole squad rather than a few individuals. Everybody had a crucial role to play in today's game."
Stewart's's try in the opening minutes had served as a wake up call.
"We knew we had to pick it up after that," Johnston said.
"Varsity have got some good speed out wide so we really had to rely on that scramble defence."
Stewart, for her part, was full of praise for her University side.
"The girls gave it everything they've got. Pirates were just too good in the end," she said.
"The girls fought with everything right down to their hearts but it just wasn't quite enough. But we'll be back next year, that's for sure."
