Northland 26 Tasman 21
A mighty comeback from the Taniwha, where the big players stood up, has sent Northland through to their first ever home semi-final.
A Kyren Taumoefolau break came from a loose Taniwha lineout, and the winger found Maloni Kunawave in support, reaching inside the Northland 22. Quick support play saw the ball spun wide left to captain Johnny Lee, who put the pedal down and broke a tackle to score the game’s first try.
Tasman thought they were in again when Taumoefolau gathered a loose ball and sped away to the try line, but on review it was found that a Mako had knocked the ball forward in tackling Rivez Reihana, and it was disallowed.
He was eventually rewarded though, on the 20-minute mark a slick passing move saw the winger go in at the corner to score a record-breaking 19th try of the season.
Northland then had a disallowed try after a Brady Rush midfield break was found to have started from a forward pass.
Rush was rewarded for his endeavour though, scoring after a well-worked series of phases inside Tasman’s 22. He stepped inside two tackles and stretched to score the first points for the Taniwha.
On the stroke of halftime, Northland were camped on Tasman’s line and the phases piled up. The forwards got to work and it was Lachie Hooper rewarded with a try at the end of the first stanza, 12-14 the score at the break.
After the break, Terrell Peita scored for the Taniwha after a series of darts at the line from the Northland forward pack – it saw the home side nose in front for the first time.
It stayed that way until seven minutes from time, when Northland kicked to the corner from a penalty and set up a lineout drive. A few phases later, Ricki Heremaia crashed over from short range to see the score 26-14 to the Tanis.
Tasman scored with three minutes left on the clock to make it a tense finish. A lineout drive of their own found the whitewash, awarded to Dylan Irvine, and William Havili converted from the sideline, but it wasn’t enough. Northland held firm and advance to their maiden home semi-final.
North Harbour 31 Taranaki 50
The home side got off to the better start when breakout winger Rory Taylor crashed over by the corner flag just two minutes in. Harbour were under penalty advantage when the ball was flung wide and Taylor’s were the last pair of hands in the chain.
Ten minutes later it was the Bulls’ turn to score in the corner, through Kini Naholo. The ball was turned over in midfield and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens sped through a gap, offloading to Daniel Rona. He burst into the 22 and found Naholo in space to dot down in the corner.
Then Harbour were in again just past the half hour mark. A scrum on Taranaki’s 5 metre line saw Bryn Hall spin the ball out to a set piece where Taylor wrapped around to be the final receiver and ran through untouched to score his second of the game, and seventh of the season.
Bradley Slater scored two minutes later to keep the Bulls in touch when a lineout drive on the Harbour line saw them push over and Slater was at the back, clinging on to dive over.
Taranaki completed the first half comeback with the clock in the red, when Michael Loft scored in the right corner after being camped on the Harbour for 12 phases. Loft grabbed the cut-out pass from Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and dived over for the final play of the half, to leave the score 14-17.
Naholo grabbed his second of the game three minutes into the second half after Harbour committed too many to defending the try line. A wide pass from the base of the ruck fell to Naholo, who stepped inside a would-be tackler and scored.
Then Slater grabbed his second of the match, again off the back of a lineout drive. The Bulls had the throw from about 12 metres out from the Harbour line and got the push on early before Slater dove off on his own to go for the line and touch down.
And in a near carbon copy of the previous try, Slater again threw to the back of the lineout and joined to push. Harbour initially drove them back, but the Bulls got the push on and Slater was in for his hattrick, giving the Bulls a commanding 22-point lead.
With just over a quarter of the game remaining, Kaylum Boshier found himself in a gap and boosted through. He looked for support before throwing a Brodie Retallick-esque dummy to send the fullback the wrong way and storm inside the 22 before being caught and handing off to Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens for a simple try under the posts.
Taranaki raised the bat for 50 when Vereniki Tikoisolomone scored with 19 minutes remaining. Sam Clarke made space for himself in midfield before finding Tikoisolomone at the end of the chain for a simple try in the corner.
Sam Wye got one back for the hosts when Taranaki covered the short side with too many men, leaving a gap for the replacement scrum half to snipe himself and dive over the line.
Hunter Rice also grabbed one for Harbour when the ball fell to him on the edge of the Bulls 22 and he decided to go himself. Dragging three defenders with him, he dotted down in the corner. After a TMO check for grounding, the try was awarded.
And with the clock in the red, Rice scored again from close range. Stepping off his left, he darted around one defender and dove over the line under pressure from two Bulls players, ending Harbour’s season on a high note.
Otago 50 Hawke’s Bay 14
Otago powered into the semi-finals with a commanding 50-14 win over Hawke’s Bay at Forsyth Barr Stadium, dominating the forward exchanges and scoring seven tries alongside a penalty goal.
The hosts started strongly, with Christian Lio-Willie opening the scoring after six minutes. Cameron Millar converted, before halfback Kieran McClea crossed nine minutes later, with Millar again adding the extras.
Hawke’s Bay responded through Folau Fakatava, who scored after 24 minutes. Harry Godfrey converted to make it 14-7.
Otago continued to apply pressure, with prop Saula Ma’u crossing after a powerful forward effort. Millar converted, then added a penalty before halftime to give Otago a 24-7 lead.
Joseva Tamani extended the advantage after the break, although Millar’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Hawke’s Bay received a penalty try to reduce the margin to 29-14.
Otago then pulled away. Sam Nemec-Vial finished an attacking movement, with Millar converting, before Joel Lam crossed to extend the lead. Millar again added the conversion.
Harry Irving completed the scoring with a late try, and Patrick Pellegrini converted to seal the 50-14 victory.
Canterbury 62 Waikato 26
Canterbury delivered a dominant quarter-final performance at One NZ Stadium, beating Waikato 62-26 to book their place in the NPC semi-finals. The home side’s powerful forward play and sharp attacking combinations proved too much for the visitors.
Canterbury struck early through hooker Brodie McAlister, who finished a powerful forward drive. Johnny McNicholl crossed after a flowing passing move, with Isaac Hutchinson successful in both conversions.
Dallas McLeod then broke through to score, and Hutchinson converted. McAlister added his second try, and Kurtis MacDonald followed with another Canterbury try, although Hutchinson missed the conversions.
Waikato responded through Mason Tupaea, with Taha Kemara converting. Canterbury’s Dominic Gardiner then crossed from close range, but Hutchinson’s conversion was unsuccessful. McAlister completed his hat-trick just before halftime, with Hutchinson converting to make it 43-7 at the break.
Waikato fought back through an Austin Anderson intercept, where he raced away to score, with D’Angelo Leuila converting. Waisake Salabiau added another try, also converted by Leuila.
Canterbury responded through Andrew Knewstubb, although the conversion was unsuccessful. Tahlor Cahill then scored after individual brilliance, with Hutchinson converting, before Tyson Belworthy crossed following a passing move. Hutchinson added the extras.
Salabiau scored a late consolation for Waikato, but Leuila’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful.