Two stunning breakaway tries by powerhouse centre Jaime Chapman have lifted the Indigenous women to a 26-4 flogging of the Maori All-Stars in Townsville.
Twice slicing through the Maori line and running half the field to score, Chapman’s contributions helped the Indigenous side cash in on their dominance and claim the easy win on Friday night.
Errors ruined any momentum the Maori side was able to find, completing just 46 per cent of their sets in the first half as they fell into a massive 16-0 hole.
Chapman quickly snuffed any thoughts of a comeback, charging 60m to put her side 22-0 clear early in the second half.
Reigning Dally M medallist Tamika Upton got the show on the road early, her clever grubber finding Indigenous teammate Shaylee Bent for the game’s first points.
After Chapman’s first, centre Bobbi Law produced a brilliant gather and put winger Kimberley Hunt through.
Rain produced greasy conditions at Queensland Country Bank Stadium but it didn’t excuse Maori’s poor ball security, butchering a sequence of chances on the opposition line early in the second half.
Winger Jasmin Strange finally got them on the board 10 minutes from time after a sharp pass from Ash Quinlan.
Kimberley Hunt is tackled. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
But Indigenous No.7 Kirra Dibb, who put on a kicking masterclass throughout to help them take control of the territory battle, iced the contest with a delicate grubber beating the Maori line and allowing Hunt to double up.
Along with her two tries, Chapman came up with 192m running and six tackle busts, while bench prop Grace Kemp (81m, three tackles busts) was close to the game’s best forward.
Shannon Mato dug deep for the Maoris, running for 121m to lead her side.
It continued the win-loss pattern between the two sides in the annual fixture, having alternated victories in the six years the format has been running.