Poppy Baxter of Matatu charges forward during the round one Super Rugby Aupiki match between Matatu and Chiefs Manawa at One NZ Stadium, on Saturday. Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images Matatū laid down an early statement in their Super Rugby Aupiki opener in front of a record crowd in Christchurch. The team representing the South Island dispatched Chiefs Manawa 52-26 in front of 11,793 fans — a record for a New Zealand domestic women’s game — at Te Kaha. Elinor-Plum King scored a hat-trick in her Matatū debut, having previously played for the Hurricanes Poua, and there were well-worked team tries across the park. They took all of five minutes to fire thanks to Kaipo Olsen-Baker. Lock Paris Lokotui — in her first game in her switch from netball — snaffled an overthrown lineout and put the ball inside for Otago’s Maia Joseph to finish. Manawa hooker Vici-Rose Green scored from a rolling maul to finally give her side a reprieve. King scored her first and then Matatū captain Grace Brooker made a stunning break charging up field. Her side went edge-to-edge, ending with a nice pop ball from Joseph to centre Amy du Plessis to score. Green grabbed her second, smartly regathering the ball short of the line to catch the defence out. But Matatū held a 26-14 lead at the break. Binky Muamua scored to extend Matatū’s lead but Leata Puni-Lio scored on debut for Manawa. Laura Bayfield scored for Matatū and Ariana Bayler returned fire for Manawa. Matatū ramped up from there. King scored two lovely tries to seal the win. The Blues beat the Poua 42-7 in Auckland. Blues lock Maama Vaipulu could be set for a stint on the sidelines after she was red-carded for striking Brianna Wallace in the face on the ground. Super Rugby Aupiki The scores Matatū 52 Elinor-Plum King 3, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Maia Joseph, Amy du Plessis, Binky Muamua, Laura Bayfield tries; Hannah King 6 con. Chiefs Manawa 26 Vici-Rose Green 2, Leata Puni-Lio, Ariana Bayler tries; Carys Dallinger 3 con. Halftime: 26-14.
