The Maoris have held on for a gutsy 16-12 win over the Indigenous side in the women’s All Stars match in Rotorua on Saturday afternoon.
The Maoris scored first thanks to some nice hands from halfback Ashleigh Quinlan and centre Amy Turner for Zali Fay to finish in the corner in the sixth minute.
MATCH CENTRE: Maori All Stars v Indigenous All Stars, highlights, video, stats
“A sweeping move to the left and the Maori All Stars score first,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.
“The cut-out ball from Quinlan was a thing of beauty and what a finish by Zali Fay.”
Quinlan gifted possession back to the visitors after knocking on the ensuing kick-off but the Indigenous side couldn’t make them pay.
Instead they settled for a penalty goal on the stroke of quarter time to trail 4-2 at the first break.
The Maoris extended their lead through Jasmin Strange in the 19th minute but the Indigenous women struck back through Jada Taylor moments later.
The visitors then hit the lead after Destiny Brill was binned for a spear tackle in the 38th minute and Keilee Joseph scored a few plays later.
But Turner scored next before Fay crossed for her second and the match winner with just five minutes remaining.
