The Melbourne Rebels have finished their 2019 Super W season with a 66-12 loss to NSW Waratahs Women at Anne Ashwood Park in Bathurst.
The Waratahs were too strong for the Rebels, as the NSW side secured their fourth straight win of the season and booked a home Grand Final for the second consecutive year.
Leading the home side was speedy winger Shanice Parker, who scored four tries, while replacement hooker Melissa Fatu also chimed in with two five pointers.
While the Rebels suffered a 54-point loss, Melbourne can hold their heads high having scored two tries against a NSW side which had only conceded 12 points in 2019, highlighting a vast improvement in multi-phase attack efforts.
The side doubled their one try scored against Rugby WA Women thanks to two tries from Tyra Boysen-Auimatagi and Tangata Tupou.
The Waratahs got away to a fast start when a clever chip allowed Maya Stewart to run down the ball and score a try.
Two well worked tries to Evelyn Horomia and Bella McKenzie saw the Waratahs inflict a 19-0 lead within the first nine minutes.
With NSW looming to induce a heavy defeat, Melbourne responded with fantastic defensive efforts to stifle the Waratahs’ ball movements.
The Rebels were rewarded for their hard work when some great team pressure on Ashleigh Hewson caused the Waratahs full back to lose the ball on the half way line.
Rebels winger Tyra Boysen-Auimatagi swooped on the opportunity, breaking the line to show a clean pair of heels to several NSW defenders, who could not chase her down, allowing the number 11 to score Melbourne’s first ever try against the Waratahs.
However, moments later, Ashleigh Hewson amended her error by scoring a try, which was quickly reinforced by back to back converted tries to Shanice Parker, extending NSW’s lead to 40-7.
Yet, it would be the Rebels who would have the last say of the first half.
A brilliant run from Co-Captain Meretiana Robinson saw the full back dish out a lovely wide ball to winger Tangata Tupou, who ran her first try of the season in the corner, resulting in Melbourne trailing by 40-12 at half time.
The start of the second half saw NSW quash any sniff of a Melbourne comeback thanks to a great pick and drive by hooker Melissa Fatu, extending the Waratahs’ lead past 30 points.
Another two consecutive tries to Parker extended the score out to 59-12 and saw NSW take full control in the second half.
With ball handling and tackling becoming more difficult in the driving rain which set upon the match, NSW slowly flexed their attacking muscle.
A 71st minute try to Fatu was the icing on a NSW cake, with the Rebels unable to add any more points to their two first half tries.
