Indigenous team pip Māori to win last-minute Women’s All Stars thriller

The Indigenous team claimed a second-straight – and dramatic – women’s All Stars win, scoring a last-minute penalty through Lailani Montgomery to defeat the Māori 20-18. Montgomery was awarded a shot from right under the sticks after the playmaker’s legs were taken out while attempting a drop goal just a minute earlier. Māori standoff Ash Quinlan was the guilty party and replays showed she made glancing contact with Montgomery’s planted legs. Bunker official Matt Noyen awarded a penalty for the Indigenous team and Montgomery nudged the ball through the sticks to seal the win.

The loud Māori contingent, which formed part of the 14,279 crowd at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, made their feelings known as the Indigenous team celebrated. Their victory was the first time a team had won back-to-back games in the women’s All Stars since its inception in 2019. “I don’t want to take anything away from our [Indigenous] sisters,” said Māori captain Shannon Mato. “Coming down to the final [minute] on the clock and not get the win, it’s going to be devastating for us because we’ve had so much support. It’s a funny feeling I have right now.”.

The Indigenous side’s victory was all the more impressive given starting standoff Kirra Dibb failed to finish the match due to an ankle injury. Had Dibb been fit, Montgomery would have likely seen limited gametime. “My first word is ‘wow’,” said hooker Quincy Dodd. “[Montgomery] is an incredible human being and on that field there she took it with both hands. She executed it so well. Kirra is an amazing player and to step into her shoes, she did the best for us and got us those two points at the end there. She will always remember this game and this week.”.

Concern lingered around Bobbi Law, who was the recepient of a Tiana Raftstrand-Smith hip-drop tackle that led to the Māori back-rower spending time in the sin-bin in the second half. Dibb had helped get the Indigenous side off to a red-hot start when a well-weighted kick to the right flank was touched down by Monique Donovan. Jaime Chapman was next to breach the Māori line, the Gold Coast flyer chiming in from deep to push the Indigenous All Stars further ahead. Chapman’s try was her fifth at this level, making her the leading Indigenous tryscorer in the history of the women’s All Stars clash.

The Titans speedster’s effort seemed to spark the Māori into life and in the space of 10 minutes, they sliced through the Indigenous line on three separate occasions. Chante Temara got them going with a barge-over out of dummy half before Laikha Clarke bashed her way over next to the posts. Lilly-Ann White was next to find a gap in the Indigenous line when she cut back against the grain, with Raecene McGregor converting all three tries.

Sign up to Australia Sport. Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk. after newsletter promotion. The Māori defence was impressive but they eventually wilted when they were reduced to 12 and Ella Koster finished in the corner. After missing her conversion, Montgomery kicked a penalty goal to make it 18-18. McGregor shanked one drop goal attempt in pursuit of a winner. And Montgomery did likewise but she was given a second chance from the tee in the final minute to wrap up the win.