Matatū took a big step towards securing a place in the Super Rugby Aupiki final with a 43-24 win over the Hurricanes Poua in Upper Hutt on Saturday.
It gives the second-placed southern side a handy buffer with a tough away game to come against the Blues then a Christchurch clash with the Chiefs Manawa that will either be a dead rubber or a virtual semifinal.
There was an early sense on Saturday that it was going to be a one-sided race at the NZCIS grounds.
Matatū were irresistible in the early running as they mixed direct, physical work with some good ball-handling skills.
Impressive No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker scored the opening try, and Keighley Simpson — who had been on the field for a matter of seconds as an HIA replacement for fellow winger Fia Laikong — made it 14-0 when she was on the end of the chain.
The Poua fought back through a neat lineout move that led to a try to prop Ngano Tavake.
No game of rugby is complete without a glorious intercept try and Winnie Palamo duly delivered for Matatū when she read a pass perfectly and raced away from 85m.
Flanker Lucy Jenkins was then on hand for a fourth try that gave Matatū a convincing 26-7 lead.
Less impressive was the blip that followed.
Star Poua winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga fought back with a try, and the home side closed the gap further right on halftime when Matatū were too slow to clear and flanker Elinor-Plum King charged down and scored.
Both sides seemed a tad cagey to start the second half, before the Hurricanes cut the lead to two points from a cross kick and a blindside dart.
Happily for Matatū, those were to be the last points they conceded as they came home with a wet sail.
Olsen-Baker, the game’s most impressive figure, grabbed her double with a typically aggressive run from the back of a scrum, and Maia Joseph scored after a nice Amy du Plessis run.
Matatū completed victory when a kick took a vicious bounce, and Palamo was on hand to regather and feed captain Alana Bremner for the try.
"That was super tough," Bremner told Sky Sport.
"The Hurricanes are a physical team and they came at us.
"They came in patches when we slacked off."
In the late game, the Blues maintained their perfect start to the season with a 36-21 win over the Chiefs Manawa.
Super Rugby Aupiki
The scores
Matatū 43
Kaipo Olsen-Baker 2, Keighley Simpson, Winnie Palamo, Lucy Jenkins, Maia Joseph, Alana Bremner tries; Hannah King 4 con
Hurricanes Poua 24
Ngano Tavake, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Elinor-Plum King, Leilani Hakiwai tries; Cassie Siataga 2 con
Halftime: Matatū 26-19.
