The NSW Waratahs have fallen narrowly short, going down 24-17 to the Blues in the Women's Super Rugby Champions Final.
The hosts almost defied a host of injuries to send the game into extra time, missing crucial chances later to level the scores.
Watch every second of the Women's Super Rugby Champions Final live and on demand via Stan Sport.
"Super proud of the group, particularly proud of the effort tonight," coach Mike Ruthven said post-match.
"Momentum's a funny thing in sport and we've certainly created and built some momentum over the last month and I thought the girls did an outstanding job to carry that momentum into a fixture that we're really confident around winning and I thought our performance reflected that.
"We certainly challenged the Blues tonight. I thought we made life really difficult for them at times and that's a reflection of what this team's capable of."
The Waratahs were dealt further blows before the game as Amelia Whitaker and Rosie Ferguson were ruled out with injuries, joining Desiree Miller, Georgina Friedrichs and Adiana Talakai among others on the sidelines.
However, they were more than up for the challenge early on as they took it to the Blues.
Maya Stewart crossed for the opener after a lovely cutout ball from Caitlyn Halse put the winger into space.
The early score didn’t faze the Super Rugby Aupiki champions as they delivered a double strike.
Prop Chryss Viliko got on the scoreboard with a powerful burst close to the line, followed over by a remarkable effort from Katelyn Vahaakolo in the 18th minute
Vahaakolo got the ball on halfway and chipped the fullback, finishing it off after fellow Kiwi international Braxton Sorensen-McGee won the race to the ball.
The hosts refused to dip their heads as flyhalf Waiara Ellis pressed her claims for the Wallaroos number 10 jersey.
Ellis levelled the scores in the 25th minute after catching the Blues short of numbers.
She then came up with two clutch pilfer penalties at ruck time as the hosts tried to hold on.
But the might of the Blues was too much as Vahaakolo got her second right on half time for a 17-12 lead.
The visitors extended their advantage via their skipper Maiakawanakaulani Roos as they looked in control.
However, the Waratahs’ never-say-die attitude was telling as their pack set up the grandstand finish.
The hosts were dominant at set-piece time, winning countless scrum penalties and making monster metres with their rolling maul.
It set up Brittany Merlo to crash over via the rolling maul, reducing the margin to seven.
The Blues went down a player as Danny-Elle Fesolai was sent for ten for repeated infringements.
In the end, the Waratahs couldn’t find a way over the Blues line to try and level the scores.
The best opportunity came with 10 minutes to go after they were camped on the Blues 22, the visitors getting over the ball for the penalty after several minutes of defending.
Blues 24 (Tries: Viliko, Vahaakolo 2, Roos; Cons: Sorensen-McGee 2/4) def NSW Waratahs 17 (Tries: Stewart, Ellis, Merlo; Cons: Hinds 1/3)
