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Waratahs chalk up record grand final win after player sent off for stomping
By Tom Decent
The Waratahs put the final touches on a flawless Super Rugby Women’s season by chalking up the biggest grand final victory in the competition’s history in a match marred by Fijiana Drua playmaker Jennifer Ravutia stomping on a NSW player’s chest.
A hat-trick from Desiree Miller and two tries from her fellow winger Maya Stewart helped the Waratahs to a thumping 50-14 victory over the reigning two-time champions at Ballymore on Sunday afternoon.
The Waratahs opened up a 17-0 lead inside 25 minutes on the way to a fifth title in seven seasons.
It was the first time a Super Rugby Women’s team has scored 50 points in a final. The previous biggest margin of victory was the Waratahs’ 33-point win over the Queensland Reds in 2021.
Waratahs second-rower Atasi Lafai was named player of the match, while NSW backs Layne Morgan, Bella McKenzie and Georgina Friedrichs were also outstanding.
Teenager Waiaria Ellis came on late in the match in a game she won’t forget.
The Waratahs celebrate their Super Rugby Women’s grand final victory on Sunday. Credit: Getty
In the dying minutes, controversy erupted when Ravutia, the Drua No.10, was sent from the field for appearing to deliberately stomp on NSW reserve Jade Sheridan.
Moments after making a late hit on Waratahs opposite McKenzie, Ravutia pushed her right boot into Sheridan’s chest as she lay on the ground after a tackle.
The referee was alerted to the incident by a touch judge before giving Ravutia her second yellow card of the afternoon. Drua players Adita Milinia and Asinate Serevi also received yellow cards during the match.
Drua playmaker Jennifer Ravutia stomps on the chest of NSW reserve Jade Sheridan in Sunday’s Super Rugby Women’s final.
The act of foul play did not dampen Waratahs celebrations at full-time following a memorable season where everything went right.
NSW won all five of their regular season matches – by an average margin of 27.2 points – before a 47-27 semi-final victory over the Brumbies.
They were a class above the Drua, who pinched an unexpected semi-final win over the Waratahs last year.
“It feels amazing,” McKenzie told Stan Sport. “To come up here to Ballymore with all our friends and family in the crowd ... I just love this club. I love playing in the sky blue jersey. It means so much to me. I know we’ll celebrate this one tonight.
“We made a few errors at the start of the second half but we just have so much belief and trust in our systems. Every one of our girls from [number] one to 30, they know what they’re doing, they know their job.”
New Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp, who was at the match in Brisbane, will name her first squad of the year on Tuesday ahead of Tests against Canada (May 11) and USA (May 17).
Watch all the action from the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, with every match ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.