The Blues proved too strong in Hamilton tonight, winning 21-10.
They were good value for the 11-point margin. They dominated most of the first half and had the edge in X-factor in their debut game in the tournament.
It was Matatū’s second loss. It was beaten 17-15 by the Chiefs Manawa last week.
The South Island side staged a brief revival midway through the second spell but was undone by some magical footwork by sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong and a nice finish out wide by hardworking flanker Shannon Leota.
No 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u had a strong game as well, while Matatū fullback Renee Holmes made some critical stops including a late effort in injury time.
Matatū prop Pip Love was a late scratching. She was replaced by Lucy Anderson and she got hit in a big tackle first touch.
Not to worry. Moments late Liv McGoverne opened the scoring with a penalty for Matatū.
But the opening half otherwise belonged to the Blues. They had much more ball and in much better areas.
They looked dangerous out wide but just could not hold on to pill. Credit Matatū with some tenacious defence as well. It is a team which hangs on tight and looks to pounce late in the game when the spaces open up.
But the South Island team was under massive pressure up front.
The Blues were dominating the scrum and their driving maul got out of second, third and then fourth gear as it steamrolled towards the tryline midway through the half.
Something had to snap but not Alana Bremner. The Matatū captain shut down a promising move when she knocked the ball free in a desperate tackle. And those desperate tackles were mounting up in their 22.
But right on halftime prop Krystal Murray busted through another valiant effort to score under the posts.
The Blues went into halftime leading 7-3. That seemed scant reward in comparison to their effort, though.
Rolling substitute Mele Hufanga stung Matatū shortly after the restart. She collected an offload from Aldora Itunu and the midfielder sprinted 25m to the line to score to the right of the posts.
Matatū responded quickly. Di Hiini took a quick tap close to the line and passed to Martha Mataele and no-one was stopping the big right winger from that range.
It was a lifeline for Matatū who had a good patch. But an elusive run from Nathan-Wong created some space out wide and loose forward Leota got herself in support and scored.
In the other match the Chiefs Manawa recorded their second consecutive win, beating the Hurricanes Poua 29-8.
The Chiefs led 12-8 at the break but were on the backfoot for large periods of the second spell.
The Hurricanes duffed some golden opportunities while the Chiefs’ sparkling backline converted theirs.
Manawa also lost two players to the sin bin and had to survive a two minute stint with just 13 players.
Blues 21 (Krystal Murray, Mele Hufanga, Shannon Leota tries; Patricia Maliepo 2 con, Krysten Cottrell con)
Matatū 10 (Martha Mataele try; Liv McGoverne con, pen).
Halftime: 7-3
