The Spirit claimed a 21-17 win over Wellington at the North Ground on Saturday, after leading 13-10 at the break.
The Wellington side had come south with a massive pack, and its scrum started off in ominous form. But the home team, led by a tigerish loose forward trio, never stood back in getting in the faces of the Wellington attackers.
Spirit coach Marty Gray said the side did not want to get sucked into playing Wellington's style.
''We knew they wanted to play like that - keep it in close and use their ball runners - while we wanted to get it a bit wider,'' he said.
''With that wind behind us in the second half, we knew if we got them turning round, that their big forward pack wouldn't like that.''
When the chances came along, the Spirit made the most of them, with fullback and captain Halie Hurring scoring two tries in the first half.
Openside flanker Rachel Scott took on players well above her weight and stopped them in their tracks. She was adept at getting the ball from Wellington attackers, while No8 Angie Sisifa never took a backward step with the ball in hand and roamed the field.
Rebecca Todd complemented the other two loose forwards.
The Spirit got off to a great start, with Hurring scoring her first try inside the first couple of minutes. First five-eighth Megan Manson kicked the ball ahead and with no cover for Wellington, Hurring kicked the ball on and was first to dive on it.
But if the Spirit thought it was going to be easy, it had another think coming, with Wellington's big forwards taking over for the next half hour.
Winger Brenda Collins scored out wide and 10 minutes later, Wellington's other winger, Jessika Akavi, scored after Otago ran out of numbers.
But Otago came back into the game, and Hurring and left winger Michaela Baker combined to set up Hurring's next try. Hurring and Baker cut through the defence from a sloppy Wellington clearing kick, and Hurring had an easy 30m run to the line.
Megan Manson added a penalty right on halftime.
In the second half, with the wind behind it, Otago managed to gain more territory. It had a couple of chances but the clincher came just after halfway through the second half.
Otago spread the ball wide and Courtney Martin was pushed into touch as she went for a try. However, referee Chelsea Curr ruled the tackle was high and dangerous and awarded Otago a penalty try.
When Hurring added a penalty with 10 minutes to go, Otago was safe. Wellington scored a try near the end through big lock Jackie Patea but it was too late.
Along with the loose forward trio, Hurring played well, as did hooker Lucy Emery, while the Otago midfield of Lucy Anderson and Greer Muir was lively on attack and defence.
Women's championship
The scores
Otago Spirit 21
Halie Hurring 2 tries, penalty try; Hurring pen, Megan Manson pen
Wellington 17
Brenda Collins, Jessika Akavi, Jackie Patea tries; Elizabeth Goulden con
Halftime: Otago 13-10.
