Amazing Grace fires Tahs to Super W final with Reds drubbing

NSW have charged through to the Super W final and a rematch with Fijiana Drua after overcoming early resistance and injuries to beat Queensland 36-0 in the elimination semi.

The Tahs, whose unbeaten record into year five of the competition was broken by Fijiana, who beat them 29-10 earlier in April, will get their chance for revenge at Melbourne’s AAMI Park in the grand final on Saturday week.

NSW, who beat Queensland 46-0 last Saturday in the final regular-season round, were made to work harder in their second contest of the week at Eric Tweedale Stadium in western Sydney.

Four NSW tries in ten minutes either side of halftime settled Thursday’s encounter.

The game was twice held up for several minutes in the second half, after Waratahs five-eighth Arabella McKenzie and reserve front-rower Penelope Leiataua were tended to and stretchered off the field, after each was tackled close to the Reds’ line.

In contrast to last weekend when they struggled to build momentum, the Reds put together some strong multi-phase moves in the early stages.

However, they couldn’t convert those into points and were made to pay later in the half when NSW scored three tries in seven minutes.

“That was a tough grind, the Reds really gave it to us, they are a hearty team,” NSW captain and No.8 Grace Hamilton told Stan Sport.

Waratah Grace Hamilton is tackled by the Reds. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

“We knew we just had to grind that out.

“We just needed to get some points on the board and as soon as we did that I knew the energy would be up and we’d keep going and getting forward.”

Hamilton triggered the Tahs’ surge, scampering about 15 metres from the base of a scrum and plunging over the line.

Finally able to string their passes together, NSW scored a brilliant second try, which started from deep in their own half and covered both sides of the field.

Winger Margot Vella made a strong burst down the left and when the ball was swung quickly to the right, the move was finished off by fullback Mahalia Murphy.

Back from injury, Murphy turned provider on the stroke of halftime, setting up winger Tatum Bird, who fended off Reds fullback Ellie Draper on her way to the line.

The Waratahs took less than two minutes of the second half to add another try to their collection and the forwards needed no assistance.

Lock Sera Naiqama took a lineout cleanly and the irresistible drive ended with hooker Natalie Delamere grounding the ball over the line.

After the injury delays NSW crossed twice more, with Vella rounding off a slick movement and lock Kaitlan Leaney crashing over in the closing moments.

“A tough night at the office again,” Reds captain and flanker Shannon Parry said.

“We matched them for 30 and then a lapse in concentration in that last ten minutes leading into halftime and three quick tries got us on the hop.”