Canterbury dominant in FPC final win over Auckland

Canterbury stalwart Kendra Cocksedge has signed off her provincial rugby career in a dominant 41-14 win over Auckland in the Farah Palmer Premiership final.

Kendra Cocksedge of Canterbury scores a try in her last game for the province.
Photo: Photosport

Black Fern Cocksedge made her 100th and final appearance for the province on Saturday at Rugby Park – which was renamed Te Ohaere-Fox Cocksedge Park for the occasion.

Cocksedge is only the second woman after Steph Te Ohaere-Fox (113 appearances) to play a century of games for Canterbury.

Te Ohaere-Fox also hung up her boots after the final.

Canterbury were in control from the third minute of the match when Martha Mataele crossed for the opening try, followed by another for Georgia Ponsonby two minutes later.

Black Ferns captain Ruahei Demant reduced the deficit for Auckland when she crossed the try line in the ninth minute.

Auckland would not add to their points tally until after the final siren when substitute Cilia-Marie Po’e scored.

The hosts took a 13-7 lead into half-time.

After the break, Cocksedge found her range off the tee slotting two penalties to extend the lead before Pip Love crossed for Canterbury’s third try.

Cocksedge then scored a try of her own but could not convert it.

Amy du Plessis added to Canterbury’s haul, scoring in the 61st minute.

Cocksedge’s last act was to kick a 66th minute penalty before she was subbed to big cheers.

The legendary halfback has now been a part of five Premiership winning teams from 2017 to 2022 and she leaves the game with her name alongside every single Canterbury points scoring record.

She scored 21 points in the final.

It was the eighth time since 1999 Canterbury and Auckland had contested the Premiership final.

Auckland had been dominant, winning 14 of the previous Premiership finals they contested, including seven of the eight deciders they had played against Canterbury.

Meanwhile, it was third time lucky for Hawke’s Bay in the Championship final.

Hawke’s Bay beat Otago 24-20 in Balclutha in an upset victory.

Otago stormed into the final with an unblemished record, having won six games this season – scoring more points than any other side in the competition – but could not keep out a determined visiting side.

Otago beat Hawke’s Bay by the same scoreline in the 2020 final and Hawke’s Bay was beaten by Manawatu in last year’s final.

To finally get the title meant a lot to captain Krysten Cottrell and she said the team needed to “dig deep” to get the win.

Hawke’s Bay are promoted to the Premiership for next season.