On a drizzly day at FMG Stadium Waikato, the clouds parted just in time for kick-off in today’s Touch Football All Stars clash, and it was the Māori All Stars who shone brightest, powering away in the closing stages to secure a 10-5 victory over the Indigenous All Stars.
With dewy conditions making ball control difficult early, both sides took time to settle. A forward pass from the opening Māori set hinted at early nerves, and a string of handling errors followed as players adjusted to the slippery surface.
It was Tyla Love-Hepi who would open the scoring, capitalising after Jai Charlton was caught offside and Love-Hepi pounced to give the Māori side a 1-0 lead.
The Indigenous side responded immediately when Riley Jones crossed for an instant reply as both teams traded sets in a fast, physical opening. Despite the greasy ball, the Indigenous side impressed with their ability to get off the seven-metre line quickly as they looked to push the Māori side deep into their own defensive half.
As the game began to settle, both teams appeared to have worked each other out, and it would have to take something special to break the deadlock again. That moment came when Jordan Tuakana Hudson threw a darting long ball to find Mariana Winiana, restoring the Māori lead.
The Māori defence then stood tall as the Indigenous side pressed for another quick reply, and at the other end, a crucial touch from Zali Chippendale denied what looked like a certain third try.
Moments later, the game began to open up, and it was Ifor Jones producing an intercept, holding his trademark bucket hat in hand, Jones charged up the field before linking with Pokaiaua Kurukaanga to extend the lead to 3-1. Shortly after, the momentum was quick to continue as Tama Toa Ropati dazzled with Shaun Johnson-like footwork to make it 4-1.
Image source: NRL
With the Māori All Stars expecting to head into the break with a comfortable lead, the Indigenous team had other ideas, and with 90 seconds remaining in the half, debutant Chayse Shaw latched onto a beautifully dipping pass to close the gap to 4-2. The Indigenous side rode the wave of momentum, and on the stroke of half-time, Andi Law dived over to make it 4-3, completing a stirring late rally after a clever bit of play.
Māori respond after the break
The Māori side looked to snatch back control early in the second half, and Ifor Jones again pulled the strings, delivering a perfectly weighted ball onto the chest of Winiana to stretch the lead to 5-3.
The Indigenous All Stars refused to go away, and it was Rebecca Bartlett striking back almost immediately, finishing off a deceptive assist from Riley Jones to narrow the margin to 5-4 and once again keep within touching distance.
But Māori’s attacking rhythm began to flow. From dummy half, the ball was fired wide and ultimately ended in the grasp of Aaliyah Paki, who went over to make it 6-4. With confidence building, Kurukaanga toyed with the defensive line as Māori threatened to break the game open.
The Indigenous side just about stayed within reach through a moment of brilliance from Jones, who launched a 30-metre left-to-right pass for Keely Silva to finish superbly, as the scoreboard ticked over to 6-5. Silva’s sister, Marlee and Dad Rocket Rod were watching on for what was undoubtedly a proud family moment.
Image source: NRL
However, the Māori side shifted gears and capitalised on key opportunities as the game entered the final 10 minutes. Andreassend crossed again after an offside call to make it 7-5, before Love-Hepi’s ambitious play was read perfectly by Hudson, who quickly moved the ball to Paki to extend the lead to 8-5.
Despite strong defensive reads from Evie Clarkson and a couple of near-misses from Chayse Shaw, the Indigenous comeback stalled and with three minutes remaining, Hudson again showcased sublime skill in the lead-up, and Ropati did the rest, pushing the score to 9-5 as Māori looked to manage the clock.
Jordan Tuakana Hudson then put an exclamation mark on an entertaining Māori performance, crossing himself to seal a 10-5 victory in a match that ebbed and flowed for three quarters of the game, before an ultimately deserving victory for the Māori team on home soil.
After outstanding displays, it was Tyla Love Hepi who would take home the Shane Fredriksen Medal, and Mariana Winiana, the recipient of the Bo de la Cruz Medal.
Touch Football Australia would like to congratulate both players, as well as the Māori All Stars team, on a fantastic display as we thank the NRL and Māori Touch New Zealand for their contributions to what continues to be a special event in the touch Football calendar.
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Final Score
Māori All Stars 10 defeated Indigenous All Stars 5
Head-to-Head: Indigenous All Stars 2, Māori All Stars 4, Draw 1
Try Scorers
Indigenous All Stars
Riley Jones – 1
Chayse Shaw – 1
Rebecca Bartlett – 1
Keely Silva – 1
Māori All Stars
Aaliyah Paki – 2
Mariana Winiana – 2
Tama Toa Ropati – 2
Tyla Love-Hepi – 1
Pokaiaua Kurukaanga – 1
Hinerangi Andreassend – 1
Jordan Tuakana Hudson – 1
Awards
Shane Frederiksen Medallist: Tyla Love Hepi
Bo de la Cruz Medallist: Mariana Winiana
