Auckland Rugby Union's women's premier Coleman Shield final will be decided at Auckland Marist's home ground of Mt Wellington War Memorial Park at 2.45pm Saturday.

In semifinal matches last week, top round-robin qualifiers Auckland Marist beat fourth-placed qualifiers Ardmore Marist 18-12 to make the final, having previously been finalists in 2019.

But they will be up against a Ponsonby Fillies team in their third successive final, last winning the shield in 2020.

Ponsonby, who finished third in the round robin, narrowly edged out second-placed College Rifles 21-19 in their semi last week, after trailing 0-5 at halftime.

But when the two teams clashed back in April - at the same venue - Marist were runaway 51-24 winners.

That may give them quite a psychological edge – particularly if star inside back Patricia Maliepo can again keep Ponsonby pinned back in their 22.

But Ponsonby coach Ross Asiata doubts there will be a re-run of that pasting.

"We have worked on our mistakes and our team is very different now," Asiata said. "Last time they played off our mistakes, but this time, if we get on the front foot we will make sure we stay there."

Key players for Ponsonby will be hooker and captain Cristo Tofa, the highly experienced second rower Eloise Blackwell and another with strong Black Ferns pedigree, Charmaine Mcmenamin.

This will be the 25th Coleman Shield final.

Article by NZ Herald