Technical ran hard and pushed the ball round as best it could but the Auckland side was simply too good and a step ahead, winning more comfortably than the score indicated.
The game was scoreless at the break as the Dunedin Technical defence stayed strong and kept out all of the raids from the slick Aucklanders.
But the effort took its toll and after having a goal from Rovers striker Kate Loy ruled out because of an offside early in the second half the deadlock was broken just before the hour mark.
Technical failed to clear the ball in the penalty area and striker Stephanie Skilton planted the ball nicely into the left hand corner of the net.
The game was killed off just over 10 minutes later when Rovers striker Georgia Brown showed a nice turn of pace and swerve to work herself into front of goal and calmly slot the ball home.
Technical tried to come back into the game but could not get close as the Glenfield defence always had the numbers.
Technical coach Graeme Smaill said he could not fault his side and its effort.
‘‘You can’t be too hard on them when you are beaten by a better side. We showed a lot of heart and courage out there,’’ he said.
‘‘In the first half we scrambled really well but just could not retain possession and they squeezed us quite well. But at halftime we were quite positive and we had held them out.
‘‘But in the second half we stayed a bit deeper, were getting a bit tired and the space opened up. They put the pressure on.
‘‘The best thing about it is they showed us what is expected. They are playing against top teams all the time and we need to get up to that standard.’’
Technical goalkeeper Jade Middleditch was outstanding and made some quality saves, while the entire back four was strong with Mikayla Hunt showing some nice touches at centre half.
It was a flying and rushed trip by the Rovers side.
The team had to find more than $10,000 for the trip in the space of two weeks and coach Andrew Clay said it had been a great effort by the team and the club.
Clay, who is a professional comedian, put on a show to held fund the trip, and one of the team’s management got an All Black jersey from last week’s Sydney test which was auctioned off.
The team had to stay in Oamaru on Friday night as there was no accommodation in Dunedin and then drove back to Christchurch straight after the game.
Rovers won the cup in 2014 and 2015 and lost in the final on penalties last season.
