Canterbury have won their third successive Farah Palmer Cup premiership title, after beating the Auckland Storm 30-20 in a tense final at Rugby Park in Christchurch.
The red-and-blacks got off to the best possible start, leading 14-0 after just 15 minutes, Auckland fought their way back into the match to set up a thrilling finish, but Canterbury ultimately proved too strong.
Fullback Olivia McGoverne scored the game's opening try for the home team in the fifth minute.
They doubled their lead 10 minutes later, when midfielder Grace Brooker scored Canterbury's second.
Auckland eventually got on the scoreboard with a penalty goal to first-five Patricia Maliepo and shortly after, New Zealand international Ruahei Demant crossed for their first try.
Halfback Kendra Cocksedge added a penalty goal for Canterbury, who took a 17-10 lead into the halftime break.
The Storm came out firing to start the second half and they were rewarded for their efforts, when winger Isla Norman-Bell crashed over to trail by two points.
But another penalty goal from Cocksedge pushed the lead out to five points.
Auckland hit back immediately, when Maliepo kicked the ball through for midfielder Demant, who put it down just before the dead-ball line.
The unconverted try levelled the match, but Canterbury re-discovered their mojo and regained the lead, when midfielder Lucy Anderson scored in the corner.
Canterbury had to finish the match with 14 players, after wing Sam Curtis was yellow-carded for a high tackle.
The Storm continued to fight, but couldn't score again and Cocksedge secured the win for Canterbury with a drop goal in the 78th minute.
On Sunday, Otago will face Hawke's Bay in the championship final.
Canterbury 30 (Olivia McGoverne, Grace Brooker, Lucy Anderson tries; Kendra Cocksedge 3 conversions, 2 penalties, drop goal) Auckland 20 (Ruahei Demant 2, Isla Norman-Bell tries; Patricia Maliepo conversion & penalty)
Join us at 6pm Saturday for live updates of the Tasman v Wellington Mitre 10 Cup premiership final.
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