A pair of tries from deep inside their own half allowed Rotorua Girls' High School to retain the secondary school girls' rugby crown against a gallant Whakatane High School side.

The visitors were well worth their 20-17 win – especially considering they were hammered 52-17 by the same opposition just three weeks ago.

Rotorua Girls' High School scored twice late to take out the girls' secondary school rugby final in Whakatane yesterday.

This was a match befitting of a final.

Although Rotorua Girls' had a wealth of early territory and possession, they failed to breach a Whakatane defence who were quick to counter attack.

Chief among them were the rampaging Anahera Rapana and pivot Stacey Waaka, leading the spirited resistance in contrasting styles.

Rapana was brutal with ball in hand; hers or anyone else's. From tap kicks, off the back of the scrum, in tight in defence and in the post-match meeting of hakas, she was a powerful force insisting upon being reckoned with.

Waaka, on the other hand, dominated from ten through sheer, unerring quality.

With her feet, her hands and her head she continually sucked defenders in before unleashing her pacey outsides with incredible ease.

Not content with running the game with the scraps she was given, she smashed into breakdowns and into tackles, leading her team in every sense of the word.

A game Whakatane High School side was joined by their school mates for an impromptu post-match meerting of hakas.

Maumahara Peita opened the scoring with a try in the left-hand corner to put the home side in front, which was rubbed out just before the break by the fluent Cherylee Crean, who ghosted through to make it 5-5 at the break.

It was the Waaka show on the resumption. She split Rotorua Girls' right up the middle to make it 12-5 before Kodi Taylor returned fire for Rotorua Girls' to make it 12-10.

Waaka featured twice in a flowing scrum move seeing her score moments before taking out the corner flag, but with the conversion missing her try was to be the final points scored by her side.

Rotorua Girls' duo of late scores – bookended by the winner from nippy winger Seila Rakulu – took the title, sparking wild scenes of celebration.

Rotorua Girls' High School coach Charlie Hurihanganui cut a proud figure after the match.

'I'm really wrapped because we got a bit of a toweling off them first time up.

'We set a game plan today and the girls were great with their structure.”

He praised both teams in what was a high quality display.

'They're still a great side, but I'm proud of the girls for turning it around today.

'I thought Stacey Waaka played out of her skin and cut us down. She really covered and defended well.”

Opotiki College beat Te Puke High School 40-10 in a fiery encounter in the playoff for third.

Rotorua Gilrs' High School 20 (Chevylee Crean, Selai Rakulu, Sorrento Bockman-Rurehe, Kodi Taylor tries) Whakatane High School 17 (Stacey Waaka 2, Maumahara Peita tries; Anahera Rapana con).

Fullback Kodi Taylor crossing for one of four Rotorua Girls' High School tries