The women’s code took a big step with the inaugural South Island tournament in Dunedin at the weekend.
Four keen teams and six mostly competitive games equalled a positive start to a concept that will now need to be given a chance to become a regular fixture on the calendar.
Canterbury made no race of the final, thumping Tasman 44-0 yesterday.
The red-and-blacks also showed their class with a 46-0 win over Otago on Saturday, but they were made to work hard for a 20-10 win over Southland in the second round.
It meant Canterbury becoming the inaugural holder of the Mary Brennan Trophy.
Brennan was a stalwart of the game who represented Canterbury from 1991 to 2005, and made her Kiwi Ferns debut at 41. She still contributes as a volunteer and coach of female players.
After its rough start, Otago had two competitive games.
It was beaten 16-14 by Tasman on Saturday afternoon, and pipped 20-18 by Southland in the third-fourth playoff.
Tasman had beaten Southland 12-10 in the first round.
