Matatū victory bodes well for upcoming season

Rosie Kelly of Matatu steps on the gas upfield. PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Matatu celebrated its history-making first victory in Dunedin on Saturday.

The team representing the South Island went winless in three games in the abbreviated Super Rugby Aupiki competition last year.

But it is already off the mark this year, a 33-31 win over the Blues an indicator — hopefully — of plenty of entertaining and successful rugby to come.

Matatū appeared to have the game in the bag at Forsyth Barr Stadium when it led 33-14 shortly after halftime.

But a yellow card to otherwise impressive captain Alana Bremner opened the door for the Blues.

Jaymie Kolose scored her second try, and fellow winger Katelyn Vahaakolo bolted in from an intercept just 10 minutes later.

Martha Mataele gets up for the high ball for Matatū during her side’s round one Super Rugby Aupiki match against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

Matatū held a 33-26 lead with 90 seconds to go when the Blues had back-to-back penalties.

The home side initially got out of jail but the Blues promptly went back on the attack in injury time, and replacement Sophie Fisher bustled over the line.

That meant all eyes on first five and Black Ferns captain Ruahei Demant, who had a chance to seal the draw but sent her conversion wide.

Predictably, Matatū had flexed its muscle in the tight through World Cup winners Pip Love, Georgia Ponsonby and Amy Rule.

Flanker Lucy Jenkins was good value all game, centre Amy du Plessis showed her class and Georgia Cormick and Grace Steinmetz added plenty off the bench.

Matatū won the key moments in a relatively scrappy first quarter and roared into a 19-0 lead.

Tireless flanker Kendra Reynolds grabbed her side’s first try of the season in the sixth minute after a smooth counter-attack and a series of quick passes.

Matatū captain Bremner then showed fantastic strength to barrel through four defenders and stretch out for a fine individual try.

The Blues created some nice opportunities but the home defence, while not always orthodox, scrapped and scrambled.

Then came a frantic 13 minutes to finish the first half.

When Matatū got lineout possession on the 5m mark, there were groans but also excitement at the prospect of a rolling maul leading to a third try.

Instead, first five Rosie Kelly lofted over a delightfully weighted kick that was gathered by winger Martha Mataele to score.

Di Hiini scores for Matatū.

That made it 19-0, and while the Blues finally got on the board when hooker Grace Gago hit the goal-line defence at pace, Matatū surged ahead again when halfback Di Hiini showed her smarts and pace to scamper 35m for a stunning try.

A 26-7 lead would have been nice at the break, but the Blues opened up from a counter and Kolose grabbed her team’s second try.

In the opening game of the round, defending champion Chiefs Manawa thumped Hurricanes Poua 53-21.

Matatu plays Hurricanes Poua this Saturday, while the Blues host Chiefs Manawa.