Keebra Park’s women’s team has joined their Open Boys as Titans Cup champions after defeating Marsden SHS 24-6 in the inaugural Open Girls decider.
The dynamic play of Australian Under-19s representative Tatiana Raftstrand-Smith spurred her side to victory.
Keebra Park SHS v Marsden SHS - Titans Cup Girls
Keebra Park SHS v Marsden SHS - Titans Cup Boys Div 1
Keebra Park SHS v Chisholm College - Titans Cup Boys Div 2
Centre Faith Tutauha scored a double with tries in either half to complement scores by Raftstrand-Smith, Chantay Ratu and Harmony Perry.
Lock Raven Tihema-Mako kicked two goals.
Keebra Park captain Sunny Gerrard said to raise the Titans Cup aloft as champions was a special privilege.
“To have this honour and take it away with the girls is just an amazing feeling,” the backrower said.
“We’ve put in hard work all season and it’s great to come away with the win.
“Our inspiration was just how bad we wanted it. I’m sure everyone wanted to win but at the end of the day we played our guts out and we came away as the better team.
“At the start of the year we didn’t even really get to train so to come away with the win after having such difficulty with the season is awesome.
“It was awesome for (the graduating students), I’m sure they looked forward to it and they can say they won a final with Keebra Park forever now.”
Marsden proved challenging opposition with halfback Destiny Brill already a rising star on the Super W scene with the Queensland Reds.
Marsden prop April Ngatupuna was awarded player of the match from the losing side for her barnstorming carries through the middle.
Keebra’s incisive backline won the battle with all five of the school’s tries scored out wide.
Coach Nathan Small said winning the trophy was just reward for his player’s efforts pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.
“That was a special moment and there was a bit of emotion at the end as well,” he said.
“We got out to a nice lead but the first time Marsden had the ball they marched down the field and scored quite easily.
“I was nervous for a bit there but the girls stuck to their gameplan and really applied the pressure.”
KEEBRA PARK 24 (Faith Tutauha (2), Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Harmony Perry, Chantay Ratu tries; Raven Tihema-Mako (2) goals) d MARSDEN SHS 6 (Oshanis Whakatau try; Charmayne Pakura goal)
